Why do so many people put in the work at the gym but still struggle to see lasting results?

Clint Fowler sits down with Chris Silvernale, co-owner of NOCO Fitness, to talk about building a fitness business from the trunk of a car, creating a welcoming gym without long-term contracts or intimidation, and helping people get stronger through personalized training, nutrition coaching, and real accountability.

Chris explains why a generic workout is rarely enough, how NOCO Fitness builds plans around each person’s goals, and why sustainable progress matters more than quick fixes. They also discuss InBody scans, strength for everyday life, staying active as we age, and the role a good coach plays in getting better results with less wasted time.

Learn more:

https://www.nocofitness.com/

https://www.instagram.com/nocofitness_colorado/

https://www.facebook.com/nocofitness/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why going to the gym can feel difficult

00:53 From the trunk of a car to NOCO Fitness

02:19 Expanding across Northern Colorado

03:31 A gym without contracts or intimidation

06:20 How personalized training begins

09:29 What personal trainers actually do

10:00 Strength that improves everyday life

12:06 Nutrition coaching and InBody scans

14:18 Sustainable weight loss without starvation

16:34 Why NOCO Fitness keeps growing

18:43 Is personal training worth the cost?

20:34 Maximum results with less wasted time

21:48 Why fitness changes after 30

23:12 Staying strong for children and grandchildren

25:29 Vitality Vault and how to connect

Why do some business websites look good but fail to generate calls, appointments, or sales?

In this episode of Built In NOCO, Clint sits down with Arnold Jakobsen of Telos Creative to discuss what makes a business website effective. Arnold explains why a website needs more than attractive design: it needs clear messaging, intentional branding, strong calls to action, and a simple path that helps visitors take the next step.

Arnold also shares his personal journey from Colombia to the Faroe Islands and eventually Northern Colorado, where his passion for creativity, coaching, and helping businesses succeed led him into website design and marketing.

In this conversation:

• Why a website is still essential for a modern business

• How branding, colors, fonts, and photography shape trust

• The website mistakes that cost businesses leads

• Why clear calls to action matter

• How to use AI website builders without creating a generic website

• When animation improves a website—and when it becomes a distraction

• Why logos need to work in different formats

• Website considerations for agents, advisors, and regulated businesses

• How search is changing through AI tools

Connect with Arnold and learn more about Telos Creative:

https://teloscreative.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/telos.creative.co/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563803453285

Follow Built In NOCO for more conversations with Northern Colorado business owners, professionals, and community leaders.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why every business needs an effective website

01:22 Arnold’s journey to Northern Colorado

03:57 How Arnold entered the creative and web-design industry

07:09 Starting with purpose, branding, and strategy

10:20 What makes a website bad?

12:12 Calls to action that convert visitors

16:30 Clear messaging: how do you help customers win?

20:55 Your website as the hub of your marketing

22:54 Building a website with AI

29:11 Website animations: useful or distracting?

35:34 What makes a strong, versatile logo?

42:24 Websites and personal brands in regulated industries

47:59 The future of search and AI discovery

49:30 How to connect with Arnold and Telos Creative

Everyone knows Krispy Kreme. But there's a new donut in Northern Colorado, and it's nothing like the shelf-fresh kind you're used to.

In this episode, we sit down with the owner of the Hawaiian Donut Company (partnered with Hawaii's Manuel's Malasadas) to talk about how a chance stop at a roadside food truck on the Big Island turned into a made-to-order malasada business in Loveland, Colorado. We dig into what makes a malasada different from a traditional donut, how the owner earned the right to represent a 100-year-old family recipe, and how a five-second grand opening video led to local news coverage and sold-out weekends within their first month.

What You'll Learn:

• What a malasada is and how it differs from a traditional doughnut

• Why the recipe is intentionally less sweet — and how it's still used in savory dishes like pulled pork sliders

• The story behind partnering with Hawaii's Manuel's Malasadas, including the vetting process and the "ohana" mentality behind it

• How the business used social media and local press to grow fast in its first month

• What's next for the business, including gluten-free options and a possible Kona coffee partnership

Chapters:

1. Introducing the Hawaiian Donut Company

2. What Makes a Malasada Different From a Donut

3. The Backstory: Finding Manuel's Malasadas in Hawaii

4. Earning the Recipe: The Ohana Vetting Process

5. The Setup: Truck, Patio, and Lake Loveland Views

6. Growth: Local News, Social Media, and Word of Mouth

7. What to Expect When You Order

8. Ordering Ahead: Website, Call, and Text

9. Gluten-Free and Ingredient Questions

10. What's Next: Coffee, Flavors, and Future Plans

Resources Mentioned:

• Manuel's Malasadas (original Hawaii-based brand, Kona side of the Big Island)

• BizWest (local business publication that first covered the story)

• The Loveland Reporter-Herald (local newspaper)

• 9News (local news station)

Contact & Links Mentioned: The guest noted the business can be found by searching "Hawaiian Donut Company" on Google, Yelp, Apple Maps, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

If you enjoyed this episode, hit like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to know Hawaiian donuts have landed in the mainland.

#HawaiianDonutCompany #SmallBusinessSpotlight #NorthernColoradoEats

Dogs Don't Need Perfection—They Need Consistency

Most dog owners want a well-behaved dog, but many feel overwhelmed by training, busy schedules, and conflicting advice. In this episode of Built in NoCo, we sit down with Ivy from Meraki Paws to discuss practical dog training, potty training, crate training, dog walking, and how small daily habits can create massive changes in your dog's behavior.

Whether you're raising a new puppy, adopting an older dog, or simply trying to bring more peace into your home, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

• Why consistency matters more than complicated training methods

• The benefits of private dog training versus group classes

• How to successfully potty train a puppy

• Why crate training is often misunderstood

• How small training moments throughout the day can transform behavior

00:00 Introduction to Ivy and Meraki Paws

04:30 Common dog training challenges

09:45 Private training vs. group classes

15:20 Training newly adopted dogs

20:10 Puppy training fundamentals

26:45 Potty training tips and the bell system

33:00 Crate training misconceptions

42:15 Making training fit into a busy schedule

48:30 How Meraki Paws helps dog owners

52:00 Final advice for dog owners

• Four-H

• PetSmart Training Classes

Website: merakipawsllc.com

Social Media: Meraki Paws

Business contact available through the website and social media channels.

Ivy is a professional dog trainer and owner of Meraki Paws. She has been training dogs for nearly twenty years and specializes in helping dog owners create structure, consistency, and confidence through personalized training programs and dog care services.

#DogTraining #PetOwners #BuiltInNoCo

If you're struggling with dog training, potty training, or simply want a better relationship with your dog, connect with Ivy at Meraki Paws.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, follow, and share it with fellow pet owners.

@builtinnoco

What if the thing holding your business back isn't your market, your team, or your budget — but the story you're telling yourself?

Clint sits down with Arron Chambers — lead pastor at Journey Christian Church and executive coach with Novus Global — to unpack what coaching really is, why everyone from Netflix to local realtors is using it, and how two powerful tools (the Racket and the Ownership Reframe) can shift the way you think about your business starting today.

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between coaching and consulting — and why it matters for your growth
• How Novus Global's "meta performance" framework helps businesses go from stuck to thriving
• Why your complaints are actually hidden visions waiting to be unlocked
• How to use the Racket tool to identify the stories sabotaging your results
• What it means to make your vision your boss — and build commitments around it

Chapters:

• Intro & Who Is Arron Chambers
• Why a Pastor Coaches Businesses and Pro Sports Teams
• What Makes Novus Global Different from Traditional Consulting
• Meta Performance: Beyond High Performance
• The Vision Framework — Thrilling, Impossible, Measurable
• Coaching in Action: The Realtor and the Fitness Influencer
• The Power of Ownership Language
• The Racket Tool — Identifying Hidden Stories
• How to Work with Arron / What a Vision Call Looks Like
• Closing

Contact & Links Mentioned:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: arronchambers.com

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who's been spinning their wheels in their business. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation worth having.

#BusinessCoaching #NovusGlobal #NorthernColorado

What if the pesticides in your food were quietly destroying your gut — and almost no one was talking about it? That question sent Jerry, owner of All States Organic Supply in Northern Colorado, down a path he calls the Grand Canyon.

In this episode, I sit down with Jerry to find out why he left conventional agriculture behind and built a 100% organic herbicide and pesticide supply company. It started with his wife's unexplained health struggles and a doctor's recommendation that sent them on a multi-year research journey into soil biology, gut health, and the deep connections between what we grow and how we feel. What Jerry found was a network of farmers, soil scientists, and biologists who are quietly changing the way food gets grown — one field at a time.

What You'll Learn

• Why seed quality is the single most important starting point for growing organic, and why you can't trust the word "organic" on a bag without looking further
• How to read soil and compost labels to find truly certified organic products — look for OMRI, WSDA, or CDFA seals
• The story of soil biologist Gary Zimmer, who accidentally had to destroy every dairy cow in Hawaii and spent the next fifty years trying to fix what he found
• How one regenerative farmer in Nebraska averaged 310 bushels of corn while neighboring fields were completely wiped out by fungal disease
• Why the same companies that sold synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to agriculture are often the same companies in the pharmaceutical business — and what that means for your health choices

Chapters

• 00:00 — Introduction: Meet Jerry of All States Organic Supply
• 00:01 — Jerry's wife's health crisis and how it started everything
• 00:10 — Meeting Gary Zimmer: The soil biologist who has been to North Korea
• 00:19 — The Hawaii dairy disaster and what one insecticide did to eighteen farms
• 00:27 — Why organic growers share knowledge and have no borders
• 00:34 — GMO seeds, Monsanto, and why saving your own seeds became a legal battle
• 00:40 — How to read organic soil labels: OMRI, WSDA, and CDFA explained
• 00:48 — Soil biology: Why bacteria and fungi matter more than NPK
• 00:57 — Thym Pro, Kelp Pak, and the 310-bushel corn story
• 01:05 — Japanese beetles, grubs, and organic solutions that work
• 01:12 — Why organic soil means watering far less than you think
• 01:18 — The agriculture-pharmaceutical connection
• 01:24 — Upcoming shows and how to find All States Organic Supply

Resources Mentioned

• Gary Zimmer — soil biologist and author (Wisconsin)
• OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) — organic certification program out of Oregon
• WSDA — Washington State Department of Agriculture organic label
• CDFA — California Department of Food and Agriculture organic label
• Thym Pro — thyme oil-based organic fungicide
• Sea Tonic — cold water seaweed from the St. Lawrence Seaway, Canada
• Kelp Pak / Calpak — cold water kelp from South Africa
• Douglas Plant Health Biologicals
• Colorado Farm Show (Greeley)
• Colorado Fruit and Veggie Show (Westminster)

Contact and Links Mentioned

• Website: allstatesorganicsupply.com
• Greeley Farmer's Market — Lincoln Park, Greeley, CO | Saturday mornings
• Upcoming shows: Colorado Fruit and Veggie Show (Westminster) | Home and Garden Show (March, Greeley) | Colorado Farm Show (Greeley)

If this episode opened your eyes to what's in your soil and on your plate, share it with someone who grows their own food or is trying to eat cleaner. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation like this one.

#OrganicFarming #SoilHealth #GutHealth

Are pageant queens just fake smiles, big hair, and backstabbing drama? That is what the movies want you to believe. Miss United Universe Brandi Babin is here to blow that up entirely.

In this episode, I sit down with Brandi — Northern Colorado native, founder of the Reclaim platform, and the inaugural Miss United Universe — to challenge just about every assumption most people carry about the pageant world. We get into the real sisterhood behind the sashes, the personal crisis she survived on the way to her first crown, and the platform she has been building and living for over five years without wavering once. Fair warning: this one gets real, fast.

What You'll Learn

• Why everything Hollywood taught you about pageantry is almost completely wrong — and what it actually looks like inside
• How Brandi went from a Word document she wrote in her darkest season to a published guidebook, a podcast, and an entire platform
• What suicidal ideation actually feels like from the inside — and the five-minute survival strategy that got her through it
• Why she won a national title in a $300 Facebook Marketplace dress doing her own hair and makeup — and what that says about what actually matters
• How self-talk is the single most powerful thing you can change, and why you should start with just one sentence

Chapters

• Intro: Meet the Woman Behind the Crown
• What Movies Get Completely Wrong About Pageantry
• From Mrs. Colorado to Miss United Universe: The Journey
• The Personal Crisis That Became a Platform
• The Word Document That Became a Book
• Reclaim: The Guidebook, Podcast, and Platform
• How to Get Started in Pageantry Without Losing Your Mind
• Butt Glue, Crowns, and the Reality Behind the Stage
• Final Words: Talk to Yourself Like a Five-Year-Old

Resources Mentioned

• Reclaim: A Journey to Self-Discovery (guidebook/workbook)
• Self Rediscovery Guide (mini version, $13)
• Shattered to Unbreakable Podcast (100+ episodes, Season 9 coming)
• Reclaim University (DIY video courses)
• Brainspotting resources (available on her website)

Contact and Links

• Website: thereclaimstrategy.com
• Instagram (pageant): Miss United Universe
• Instagram (personal): brandy.babin2
• Instagram (platform): thereclaimstrategy
• Facebook: Miss United Universe

If this episode challenged the way you see pageantry — or the way you see yourself — share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Your support keeps these conversations going.

#WomensEmpowerment #SelfLove #PageantryTruth

Are insurance agents lying to you? Or are they the one person standing between you and a very expensive mistake?

I sat down with James Seela, founder of Seela Agency in Greeley, Colorado, to challenge some of the biggest assumptions people carry about insurance — that agents are just out for your money, that going online is just as good, and that filing a claim is always the right move. What James shared flipped a lot of that on its head, and I think it will for you too.

We also got into the entrepreneurship side of running an independent agency — two years of hard lessons, what it takes to build a village, and the goal every business owner is chasing: working on the business instead of in it.

What You Will Learn:

• Why your claims record works like a credit score and how a single filing can follow you for years
• The real math behind when to file a claim and when to quietly walk away
• How storm-chaser roofers create problems that a trusted local agent can protect you from
• Why small businesses are often unknowingly out of compliance with their own lease coverage requirements
• What two years of building an independent insurance agency actually teaches you about entrepreneurship

Chapters:

• Intro — Are Agents Really Scam Artists? Setting the Stage
• Why Insurance? James's Road to Starting Seela Agency
• Agent vs. Online: What You Are Actually Giving Up
• Your Insurance Score: How Claims Live on Your Record
• The Hailstorm Story: A Real Example of When Not to File
• Why Insurance Costs Keep Rising — and Our Role in It
• Commercial Coverage and Protecting Small Businesses
• Two Years In: Entrepreneurship Lessons from the Grind
• Working On the Business, Not In It
• How to Find and Contact Seela Agency

Contact and Links:

• Search: Seela Agency — S-E-E-L-A Agency
• Located at Fox Run Business Park, Greeley, Colorado
• Find James on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Licensed in Colorado | Expanding to Wyoming and Arizona
• Partnered with Farmers Insurance; works with outside carriers for broader needs

If this episode shifted how you think about your coverage, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss an episode — this show is built for you, and your comments help it grow.

#InsuranceAdvice #LocalInsuranceAgent #SmallBusinessColorado

What does it really take to help a single mother rebuild her life — not just for 90 days, but for good?

In this episode, I sit down with Jaymi Anderson, Executive Director of the Genesis Project of Northern Colorado, to talk about one of the most meaningful organizations in our region. The Genesis Project operates out of a multifamily house in downtown Greeley, providing transitional housing and wraparound support for single mothers — many of whom are navigating trauma, substance abuse recovery, domestic violence, or involvement with the justice system. But this is not just a housing program. It is a long-term community built around real relationships, honest accountability, and the belief that every woman deserves a genuine second chance.

What You Will Learn:

• How the Genesis Project's model goes far beyond transitional housing — and why that depth matters for lasting change
• Why community and shared living are the true engines of transformation for the women in the program
• How trauma shapes behavior and coping patterns, and the practical ways the Genesis Project helps women build new defaults
• What real success looks like in this work — from family reunification hearings to spontaneous backyard barbecues
• How paying off their mortgage has allowed the Genesis Project to stretch every donated dollar further and respond to new needs like the Weld County childcare assistance freeze

Chapters:

00:00:00 — Introduction and Welcome00:00:44 — What Is the Genesis Project?00:01:56 — How the Program Works: Housing, Classes, and Support00:04:08 — More Than a Short-Term Fix: Why Community Is Everything00:07:07 — Trauma, Coping Mechanisms, and Building New Defaults00:09:58 — Success Stories: Big Wins and Small Ones That Matter00:13:50 — Being Just One Piece of the Puzzle00:17:26 — Program Timeline: Phase One, Phase Two, and Aftercare00:21:58 — Impact by the Numbers00:23:47 — The Genesis Project's History: Founded 200200:25:18 — Paying Off the Mortgage and What It Means for Participants00:27:42 — The Weld County Childcare Crisis and How Genesis Responded00:31:12 — How to Get Involved: Events, Volunteering, and Donations

How to Connect with the Genesis Project:

Website: genesisprojectnoco.orgFollow on Facebook for upcoming events and volunteer sign-ups

Events to Get involved in:

• Golf Tournament — Summer
• Spring Recognition Ceremony (Graduation)

• Autumn Ignite Gala — Fall

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who cares about this community, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a conversation like this one.

#GenesisProject #NorthernColorado #SingleMothers

You're busy. You're working hard. But are your books actually telling you the truth about your business?

In this episode, I sit down with Jennifer, owner of a Northern Colorado-based bookkeeping firm, to talk about one of the most overlooked pillars of business success: your financial foundation. Jennifer brings years of experience in both bookkeeping and tax preparation, and she breaks down what you should look for in a trustworthy bookkeeper, why AI tools fall short, and how clean books can directly fuel your growth strategy. Whether you're just starting out or trying to untangle years of financial mess, this conversation will help you make smarter decisions with your money.

What You'll Learn:

• Why bookkeeping is the foundation of every healthy business — not an afterthought
• How to find a bookkeeper you can actually trust, and what to watch out for
• What bookkeeping services actually cost and how to know what's right for your stage of business
• The critical differences between a sole proprietorship and an LLC — and when to make the switch
• Why AI can't replace a real bookkeeper and what a real one does that software never will

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 — Introduction: Why Bookkeeping Matters
• 00:00:43 — Jennifer's Background and Journey into Bookkeeping
• 00:03:13 — How to Find a Trustworthy Bookkeeper
• 00:04:49 — Tax Strategy, Financial Advisors, and the Bigger Picture
• 00:06:15 — What Bookkeeping Services Actually Cost ($250–$4,000/month)
• 00:07:07 — Why AI Can't Replace a Real Bookkeeper
• 00:09:36 — Inside Jennifer's Firm: Staff, Systems, and Industries Served
• 00:12:20 — When Should You Hire a Bookkeeper?
• 00:15:05 — LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: What You Need to Know
• 00:18:23 — Working Nationwide: Bookkeeping from Anywhere
• 00:20:30 — How to Reach Jennifer + Closing Thoughts

Contact & Links Mentioned:Phone: (970) 652-4299Email: [email protected]

If this episode helped you think differently about your finances, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow entrepreneur who needs to hear this.

#Bookkeeping #SmallBusinessFinance #Entrepreneurship