Featuring Dennis Rozma, licensed professional counselor, crisis therapist, and a man who has spent a lifetime helping people navigate their hardest moments… and is now living one of his own.

At 80 years young Dennis is walking through life as a full time caregiver for his wife as dementia continues to take hold. And instead of shrinking, instead of retreating he is asking a different question: How do I still make a difference from here? That question is the heartbeat of this episode.

We talk about what it actually looks like to love someone through dementia. The moments that are confusing, heartbreaking, and sometimes even strangely human and beautiful. The reality of watching someone you love change, and the strength it takes to stop trying to “get them back” and instead meet them where they are.

Dennis opens up about the identity shift that comes with caregiving. Going from a life filled with purpose, clients, and relationships… to a quieter, more isolated season… and the internal pull to not lose himself in the process. That is where this gets powerful. Because he is not done. He is now stepping into a new chapter, starting a podcast to help other caregivers navigate what he is living every single day. Not from theory. Not from a textbook. But from real life… in real time.

Stories as data with soul.

In this episode, you will hear:
-What it actually feels like to care for a spouse with dementia and the moments no one prepares you for
-Why trying to hold on to who someone was will break you and what it looks like to adapt instead ----The truth about caregiver guilt and how to process it without letting it consume you
-Why taking care of yourself is not selfish… it is survival
-How a lifetime of serving others prepares you for the moments that matter most
-What it looks like to lose your old identity and choose purpose anyway
-Why it is never too late to start something new and make an impact
-The simple but powerful belief that we all have a responsibility to make a difference

If you have ever felt like your world got smaller.  Like your role changed, like life asked more from you than you were ready for. This one will hit. Because Dennis is living proof that purpose does not retire. Even in the hardest seasons of life you still have something to give.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

Featuring Darin Ureche, 30 year top producing real estate agent who built his career without the flash, the ego, or the “look at me” energy — just consistency, trust, and doing the work the right way.

This episode hits hard for those that want to build a consistent success in sales and business development. The whole episode is filled with Data As Soul for Darrin success career. Not a good year. Not a hot streak. Decades of it.

And what is powerful is he has now turned that into something teachable. A framework that anyone in sales or business development can use if they are willing to do the work.

In this episode, you will hear stories (aka data with soul) about:
-Why consistency is built in the small things, not the big wins
-The trap of chasing deals instead of building relationships
-How trust becomes your real pipeline
-What most people avoid that top producers lean into
-Why doing it the right way eventually compounds
-How to get off the roller coaster and build something steady

If you are tired of chasing, tired of inconsistency, or tired of wondering why it has not clicked yet, this conversation is for you. Because consistency is not luck. It is built.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit. This one right here is a conversation about what it really looks like to build something the right way.

Listen in as I am joing by Brandon Sacker of TCI Home Services & Precision Pro Sprayers, and from the outside, you might think this episode is about insulation, mold remediation, and home services. It is.

However it is also about integrity. Ownership. Leadership. Standards. And what happens when somebody decides they are not going to cut corners, not going to play the short game, and not going to build a company that wins at the expense of people.

Brandon shares the story of going from sales into ownership, buying TCI, helping double the business, and building a team and culture where trust actually means something.

He talks about walking away from jobs that are not the right fit, creating a company where customers feel safe, where employees want to stay, and where doing right by people is not a marketing line. It is the standard. 

There is a lot in this episode that hit me. The story of watching a single mom get taken advantage of in car sales and realizing he wanted to do business differently. The way he talks about his people by name and how seriously he takes sending them into somebody’s home. The fact that he would rather lose the sale than sell something that is not truly going to help.

And one of the most powerful moments in the episode is when he talks about helping someone at cost because they could not afford the work and he knew it needed to be done. That is what this episode is really about. Not just building a business. Building one you can be proud of.

If you are an entrepreneur, a leader, a sales professional, or somebody trying to figure out how to grow without losing your heart in the process, this one is going to hit home. Because Brandon is proof that you can scale, you can grow, you can win, and you do not have to become somebody you are not to do it.

You just have to do it the right way!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit.

This week I’m sitting down with Steve Koch, and this conversation is going to hit a lot of you right where you live as business owners.

Because here’s the truth…

Most of us didn’t start our business because we love numbers. We started because we love what we do. We love serving people. We love building something.

But at some point… if you ignore the numbers, the business starts working against you. And that’s exactly what we get into in this episode.

Steve isn’t just a bookkeeper. What he really does is help business owners get clarity. Clarity in their numbers, clarity in their decisions, and clarity in how they move their business forward. We talk about why messy books lead to bad decisions, how time is your most valuable inventory, and why doing everything yourself might actually be holding you back.

There’s also a powerful story in here about a business sitting on over $500,000 in receivables and what happened when they finally got clear on their numbers.

This conversation goes beyond bookkeeping. It’s about ownership. It’s about focus. And it’s about building a business that actually supports your life instead of draining it.

If you’ve ever felt like the back end of your business is a little messy… or you know you’re making decisions without the full picture… This one’s going to hit home.

Alright, let’s get into it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit where this week I am sitting down with Brandon Miller, founder of Inspired by Design Painting in Brighton, Michigan. This conversation gets into something every entrepreneur eventually has to face.

Are you building a job or are you building something that lasts?

Brandon’s story started pretty humbly. Picture a power washer, a ladder sticking out of the trunk of an old Malibu, and one guy grinding it out washing six houses a day while trying to figure out how to build a real business.

Fast forward to today and Brandon is building a company with a clear vision. He wants Inspired by Design to become Brighton’s painter for the next hundred years.

But this conversation goes way deeper than painting.

We talk about ownership versus victim mentality, the mindset shift that changes everything in business, why leadership starts with how you see people, and how something as simple as showing up on social media can completely change the trajectory of a company.

We also get into the idea of the Reticular Activation System and how what you focus on determines the opportunities you start to see.

At the end of the day the lesson is simple. Stop blaming. Start building!

There are some incredible stories in this episode about entrepreneurship, faith, service, and the moments where you realize the opportunities around you were there the whole time. You just had to learn how to see them.

Alright lets get into it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit! This week I’m sitting down with Brenda Lindsay, founder of Mind Transformations, and we dive into something that affects way more people than we like to admit… the internal battles that keep us stuck.

Brenda shares her journey from complete paralysis around public speaking to becoming someone who now teaches mindfulness, resilience, and emotional regulation to others. And this isn’t some fluffy “woo woo” conversation about meditation. This is about what actually happens in the brain and nervous system when we’re living in fight or flight… and how mindfulness can help us retrain it.

We talk about trauma, defensive patterns, fear, and the ways our past experiences can wire us to react before we even realize what’s happening. But we also talk about the hope in that — because if those patterns were learned, they can be changed.

This conversation goes deep into breaking cycles, learning to respond instead of react, and understanding that the things we struggle with don’t mean we’re broken… they just mean we’re layered.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, overwhelmed by your reactions, or like certain fears just won’t let go — this episode is going to hit home.

Connect with Brenda:
Mind Transformations – www.mindtransformationsllc.com
Find her guided meditations on the Insight Timer app.

Alright, let’s get into it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody?!?Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit!

I’ve got a returning guest in the studio today my friend Desiree Martinez, fresh off writing her new book Stop Marketing and Start Belonging… and this conversation is a wake-up call for every business owner who feels like they’re doing “all the marketing things” but still not getting the traction they want.

We get into the real stuff:

-Why community still beats content
-Why the old-school “boots on the ground” approach is more powerful than ever
-How we’re entering a new era where it’s not human vs internet…it’s human + AI —
-And the people who learn to blend both are going to win. 

If you’ve been hiding behind your screen… if networking makes you nervous… or if you’re tired of chasing algorithms and want to build something that actually lasts this one’s for you.


Links mentioned in the episode:

• Desiree’s book: Stop Marketing and Start Belonging: https://2dandelionsbookshop.com/search?q=stop%20marketing%20and%20start%20belonging
• Desiree’s community: The Table-
• The Four Conversations by Blair Enns-https://2dandelionsbookshop.com/search?q=the%20four%20conversations
• Desiree’s previous Coffee & Grit episode: https://youtu.be/8QYys1mRaXM?si=eBHOrtqyfQ4Yo8so

Alright… let’s get into it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

What is up everybody? Welcome back to another episode of Coffee & Grit.

I’ve got my guy Steven Betel-The Mortgage Family Man-back in the studio for round two, and this one goes way deeper than we planned. It starts with “the little things” such as mics, systems, daily habits and turns into a real conversation about life, presence, relationships, and what it actually means to build something that matters.

This episode is about breaking autopilot. About realizing that the little things aren’t small at all...they’re the difference between life flying by and life actually being lived.

We talk about:

-Why life starts to blur when you’re stuck in routine
-How systems create freedom, not restriction
-Why people don’t buy titles...they buy trust 
-The power of asking one more question
-And the trade-offs between “success” and being present for the moments that matter most

If you’re building a business, creating content, or just trying to figure out how to do life with intention instead of chaos, this conversation is going to hit home.

If you want to change your life, stop waiting for a big moment. Start owning the little ones.

Grab your coffee and let’s get into it.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

Featuring Siobhan Reigle, entrepreneur, sports mom, and purpose-chaser who went from “I don’t even know what a Reel is” to building a brand (and a business) online.  One uncomfortable post at a time. 

This one hit different because Siobhan isn’t just a Difference Maker out in the wild.  She’s family. And what I love about this conversation is that it’s not some polished “overnight success” story. It’s a real, human journey: Ireland ➝ Grand Cayman ➝ Key West ➝ the Coast Guard life across the country ➝ back home to Michigan… and now stepping into a new chapter where faith, grit, and consistency are the engine.

We talk about the messy middle of entrepreneurship, the cringe posts, the imposter syndrome, the mental battle of being seen, and the temptation to quit when results aren’t immediate. Siobhan opens up about the strength built through military life, the resilience of raising kids while constantly moving, and a powerful recovery journey that helped her reclaim her life and purpose. 

And then we get into what she’s building now with MWR Life (Making Wishes Real).  A travel membership + business model that’s teaching her discipline, mindset, and how to lead… even when it’s uncomfortable. 

In this episode, you’ll hear stories (aka data with soul) about:

• What happens when God answers your prayer for purpose… and the answer scares you
• Why “being seen” is a mindset battle before it’s a marketing strategy
• How military life (and constant moves) can forge resilience and leadership
• The difference between chasing money vs building from mission
• Why consistency is boring… and also the whole game
• How to stop living in your head and start living in action
• The truth about network marketing, relationships, and not sounding “spammy”
• The line that hit hard: we’re meant to please God and serve people… but we keep trying to please people and serve God

If you’re a mom, a mid-life purpose seeker, or someone staring at your life thinking, “Is this it?”… this conversation is for you.

Because it’s never too late to rewrite the story.

Sometimes the most powerful “new beginning” starts with one simple decision: Stop waiting to feel ready… and start showing up anyway.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

Happy New Year everybody, as we kick off the 1st episode recorded in 2026.

In the conversation with Noreen Owens is one of those conversations that reminds me why I started Coffee & Grit in the first place.

Because yeah… we literally had to re record it...

Technology did what technology does sometimes, and I had that “kicked in the stomach” moment where you realize you just burned an hour of another entrepreneur’s time. But here’s the funny part. Every time I’ve had to re record an episode in the last six years, it ends up being better. And this one absolutely was.

Noreen is the owner of Noreen Owens Photography and she’s been in business for over 20 years. She’s the real deal. A former corporate sales rep who looked at her life, her family, and the pace she was running at… and made the leap. Not because she had it all figured out. But because she knew there had to be something better.

What I loved about this conversation is that it starts with photography… and then it turns into something way deeper.

We talk about why portraits matter more than people think. How a family photo becomes priceless when life hits you out of nowhere. How a camera isn’t the magic… the experience is. How to get real smiles from toddlers, skeptical husbands, and everyone in between.

Then we go even deeper into the work she does that isn’t just “taking pictures.”

Noreen created The Who I Am Project for teens, built out of her own story of being bullied and rejected in middle school. It’s a confidence and self acceptance experience that helps kids see themselves differently. Some of the stories she shares hit hard in the best way.

And for women, her boudoir work is the same mission in a different form. Helping women walk out of a session standing taller, seeing themselves with new eyes, and realizing they are far more powerful than the voice in their head has been telling them.

We also got into the fun side of her world too.

Animals. Themes. Santa experiences that feel like actual magic. Ducklings. Fairies. Wizards. Seniors. Pets. And yes… a turkey named Leonard who apparently thought he was married and also hit on people during the session.

And here’s the cool part.

Noreen is opening a brand new studio in May near M 59 and US 23, and the way she talks about building a team, building experiences, and constantly learning… it’s a masterclass in what it looks like to grow something with intention.

If you’re an entrepreneur who’s ever felt that pull that says “there has to be more than this…”

If you’ve ever thought about turning something you love into a real business… Or if you just want a reminder that the things you’ve walked through might be the exact thing that equips you to help other people… This episode is for you.

Go listen. And then go book the family photos you keep saying you’ll do “someday.”

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.