Colorado Business Podcast

Sarah Beth Grant did not set out to open a cafe. In fact, she does not even drink coffee.

But after her dream wellness center was taken just three months after she bought it, Sarah was forced to pivot. That pivot became Treehouse Cafe, a Colorado Springs community hub built around wellness, connection, local entrepreneurs, events, healing, and creating space for people who need somewhere to belong.

In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Sarah Beth Grant shares the story behind Treehouse Cafe, The Root Herbalist, and the Essential Wellness Society. She talks about moving to Colorado Springs at 19, discovering herbalism, building a wellness community, navigating a major business setback, and turning a cafe into something much bigger than coffee.

We also dive into entrepreneurship, abundance versus scarcity, building real community, helping small businesses be seen, and why Sarah believes that if you do not have community, you do not have a business.

Watch the full episode to hear how Sarah turned a brutal pivot into one of Colorado Springs’ most unique gathering places.

Featured Guest

Sarah Beth GrantOwner of Treehouse CafeFounder of The Root HerbalistFounder of the Essential Wellness Society

About the Colorado Business Podcast

The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, creators, leaders, and business owners across Colorado who are building something meaningful in their communities.

Subscribe for more conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Scott Bryan started Bryan Construction in 1995 with five people, a spare bedroom, and everything on the line. Today, Bryan Construction has grown into one of Colorado’s most respected construction companies, with projects spanning commercial work, federal contracts, defense related facilities, international projects, and major developments across Colorado Springs and beyond.In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Scott Bryan shares the story behind building Bryan Construction, growing through the challenges of the construction industry, choosing the right people, expanding into federal and international work, and eventually creating an employee owned company through an ESOP.Scott also talks about what it really takes to build a lasting company, why culture matters more than most people realize, how construction has changed over the last 30 years, and why starting a construction company today would be much harder than it was in the 1990s.This conversation is packed with lessons on entrepreneurship, leadership, hiring, company culture, risk, succession planning, and building a business that can outlast its founder.Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:56 Growing up in Colorado Springs 3:50 From subcontractor to general contractor 4:36 Starting Bryan Construction in 1995 6:18 The people behind the company culture 8:15 Building vision and bonding capacity 11:43 Picking the right people 13:40 Expanding into international projects 18:45 Federal work and global construction 19:18 Building a diverse construction company 22:40 Space Command, defense work, and Colorado Springs growth 23:40 Why Scott stayed in Colorado Springs 25:36 How construction has changed over 30 years 29:41 Could he start over today? 31:45 Family, risk, and entrepreneurship 35:25 Marriage, support, and work life balance 37:35 Why Scott still loves the work 39:34 AI and the future of construction 42:59 Why Bryan Construction became employee owned 46:53 Legacy and succession 49:41 Scott’s favorite project 57:29 Advice for young entrepreneurs 1:00:35 Final thoughtsGuest: Scott Bryan, Founder of Bryan ConstructionPodcast: Colorado Business PodcastSubscribe for more conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and business leaders shaping the future of Colorado.

What does it actually take to make commercial buildings more energy efficient, more sustainable, and ready for the future?

In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, we sit down with Christopher Morales, owner of Bright Leaf Energy, to talk about energy efficiency, decarbonization, commercial building strategy, and the future of sustainability in Colorado.

Christopher shares his journey from growing up in England to moving to Colorado as a teenager, becoming a licensed engineer, and eventually starting Bright Leaf Energy. We also dive into what decarbonization actually means, how Colorado building owners are navigating energy targets, and why many businesses know they need to make changes but do not always know where to start.

This conversation is a great listen for business owners, commercial real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, sustainability leaders, and anyone interested in the future of energy in Colorado.

00:00 Intro

03:13 Meet Christopher Morales of Bright Leaf Energy

04:06 Christopher’s early life and move from England to Colorado

18:48 Christopher’s first engineering experience

22:05 What it takes to become an engineer

27:33 Why Christopher started Bright Leaf Energy

30:03 Leaving security and starting a business

36:32 What decarbonization actually means

39:08 Colorado energy goals and building requirements 40:24 How building energy performance is measured

42:59 Incentives, funding, and tax considerations

47:08 How Bright Leaf Energy finds new clients

50:56 How Christopher helps building owners plan energy projects

56:34 Why energy upgrades often happen in phases

59:26 Who Bright Leaf Energy’s ideal client is

01:08:43 Why some buildings waste energy without realizing it

01:09:48 Lessons from working with Bridgestone Arena 01:13:59 Growing Bright Leaf Energy after year one

01:16:29 Family, business, and long term vision

01:24:11 Heat pumps, data centers, and the future of energy

Subscribe for more conversations with Colorado entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders building meaningful companies across the state.

Welcome to the Colorado Business Podcast! In this episode, Alejandro, the visionary behind Clever Landscaping, shares his incredible journey of arriving in the United States with nothing and building a massive landscaping enterprise in Denver. The conversation dives deep into the harsh realities of business costs, the resilience required to overcome $9,000 in credit card debt during the pandemic, and what it truly takes to succeed as an entrepreneur from the ground up. Whether you are looking for tactical advice on scaling a service business or just want to hear an inspiring story of pure grit and determination, this episode delivers. Subscribe for more interviews with top local business leaders!

Welcome back to the Colorado Business Podcast. In this episode we sit down with Michael Simler, a former major crimes detective who is completely revolutionizing transportation at Fort Carson. Michael shares how he transitioned from taking down international cartels to launching the Carson Connector, a massive microtransit network that scaled to over 400,000 riders in just 18 months.

We dive deep into the concept of extreme ownership, the complex logistical challenges of military funding, and the deeply personal legacy of service that drives his mission every single day. This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, carrying a heavy burden, and solving high stakes problems.

Subscribe to the channel for more interviews with top business leaders and innovators across Colorado.

Welcome back to the Colorado Business Podcast. Today, we are joined by hometown native and serial entrepreneur Rocky Ross.

Rocky shares his wild journey from booking international world tours as a dancer and DJ to moving back to Colorado Springs to build a massive, multi-business entertainment hub completely from scratch. He gets incredibly real about the brutal realities of opening Inked and Infused, a complex featuring a tattoo shop, El Gringo's Tacos, a tequila bar, and a beer garden.

We dive deep into the unexpected costs that multiplied his budget , the strict city regulations he had to navigate , and the heavy mental health toll that comes with solo entrepreneurship. Whether you are a seasoned business owner or looking to start your first venture, Rocky's candid advice on overcoming isolation, finding mentors, and trusting your creative vision is a must-listen.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:00 Rocky's origin story in Hollywood and international tours

04:57 The humbling reality check of returning home

14:18 Why creative freedom looks completely different in Asia

31:48 The vision behind "Inked and Infused"

42:33 Surviving the hidden struggles and regulations of the restaurant industry

52:23 Why you need systems, mentors, and the right operating procedures

01:04:25 The real mental health toll of building a business solo

Connect with Rocky Ross:

• Websites: RockyRossProductions.com and ElGringosTacos.com

• Socials: Search "Rocky Ross" or "Ross Squad DJs"

Subscribe to the Colorado Business Podcast:

If you got value out of this episode, be sure to subscribe and drop a comment below letting us know your biggest takeaway.

In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Marcus and Andrew sit down with Data Hubz founder David Silva for a comprehensive conversation about the true impact of artificial intelligence on business, cybersecurity, and human potential.

While much of the current narrative focuses on AI replacing jobs, David offers a highly optimistic perspective on the future. We discuss how the modern workforce is shifting from manual execution to high level orchestration, making human creativity and critical thinking more important than ever. David breaks down the critical differences between data privacy and cybersecurity, explaining exactly why small businesses must bake compliance directly into their daily operations rather than treating it as an afterthought.

The conversation also explores the global AI tech race between the US and China, the surprising results of David's ultimate AI detector experiment, why banning AI in education is a massive mistake, and how to harness multiple AI agents at once to turn a busy mind into a creative superpower.

If you want a grounded, optimistic look at where technology is actually heading and how to prepare your business for it, this is a must listen episode.

Follow Our Guest:

• Check out David's compliance and software tools at DataHubz.com.

• Read David's insights on the cutting edge of AI at DavidWSilva.substack.com.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome and Sponsor Shoutout (Junkin Hall)

00:53 - Introducing David Silva and Data Hubs

01:29 - Why Compliance is Like Baking a Cake

07:43 - Cybersecurity, Privacy, and True Compliance

12:33 - How AI is Changing the Game for Small Businesses

17:48 - The Tipping Point: AI Writing the Majority of Code

20:25 - The Typewriter Analogy: Adapting to New Tools

30:52 - Using AI as Your Ultimate Brainstorming Partner

43:53 - New Tools at Data Hubs: Encrypted LLMs

47:20 - AI in Education: Banning it vs. Embracing it

54:27 - The "Ultimate AI Detector" Experiment

01:03:00 - The "ADHD Advantage" in the Age of AI

01:14:43 - The Global Tech Race: Efficiency vs. Massive Data Centers

01:18:19 - Breaking Down the "Big Four" AI Models

01:25:43 - Outro and Where to Find David

Don't forget to Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more insights from Colorado's top business leaders!

Welcome back to the Colorado Business Podcast! In this episode, Marcus and Andrew sit down with clinical psychologist and Better Business Bureau CEO Jonathan Liebert to unpack the reality of the AI revolution and what it means for the future of your career.

Are we actually ready for artificial intelligence? Jonathan breaks down why the person sitting next to you who knows how to use AI is the real threat to your job, the psychology behind adapting to new technology, and the dangers of only teaching AI pure logic. We also dive into the global AI race, the economic stakes of the technology, and why the next ten years are the most uncertain in human history.

Whether you are a small business owner, a creator, or just trying to navigate the changing economy, this conversation provides the ultimate reality check on how to survive and thrive in the age of AI.

A huge thank you to our highlighted sponsor, the Pioneer Rodeo! Be sure to check them out this August 17th through the 19th for an incredible show.

Connect with Jonathan Liebert:

• Check out his new book "Thought Partner" on Amazon or visit his website: aithoughtpartner.co

• Find free resources for accredited businesses: bbbsc.org

Timestamps: 

0:00 The Diary of a CEO Hook 

0:41 Introducing Jonathan Liebert & "Thought Partner" 

1:45 Jonathan's Background in Psychology and Social Entrepreneurship 

7:12 Sponsor Break 

10:46 How Psychology Translates to Business Success 

13:46 "Busy is the Enemy of Strategy" 

18:08 Why You Should Be Using AI Hourly 

26:14 Will AI Take Your Job? The Real Threat 

28:05 The AI Era vs. The Industrial Age

30:41 Metacognition and Developing Meta-Skills 

34:20 Sponsor Break 

37:05 The Socratic Method for Prompting AI

42:17 The Global AI Race and National Security 

45:30 Quantum Computing and Colorado's Tech Hub 

47:25 How AI Impacts Retirees and Recent College Grads 

50:43 Why Colleges Are Failing Students in the AI Era 

58:15 The Dangers of "Hollow Intelligence" 

1:00:16 Cognitive Security: Protecting Yourself from AI Scams 

1:04:47 Why Your Whole Team Needs to Learn AI 

1:08:37 The Mistake of Banning AI in the Workplace 

1:10:00 Surviving the Next 10 Years of Uncertainty 

1:13:39 The Evolution of Human and Synthetic Intelligence 

1:16:33 What Happens When AI Wakes Up? 

1:21:20 Mapping a Digital Brain and AGI Emergence 

1:25:26 Final Thoughts & Where to Find Jonathan

Listen to the Colorado Business Podcast on your favorite platform: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-business-podcast/id1492740546

https://open.spotify.com/show/1jSQ8OQSi0rprCcxTGx0KB?si=8af32d7f47fd4f81

On this special entrepreneurial roundtable episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, we sit down with returning guests Justin Sturgill and CB the Creative. We pull back the curtain on the realities of scaling a business in Colorado Springs, the difference between local networking and big-city hustle, and why failure is a required step for true growth.From navigating business buyouts to public failures and learning the unwritten rules of networking in the Springs, this open discussion is packed with actionable insights for any founder trying to build their empire.

In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Marcus and Andrew sit down with David Chavez and Jacob Rivera to discuss how they built a massive 72-hour independent film festival. What started as a small project with only eight teams has quickly grown into a 46-team competition drawing filmmakers from across the country.

David shares his journey from working as a production assistant on sets like Iron Man 2 and Bad Boys 3 in Florida to relocating to Colorado and building a community for local creatives. He also discusses his day job with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and what the Sundance Film Festival's move to Boulder means for local legislation and funding.

Halfway through the episode, co-founder Jacob jumps into the hot seat to break down the business side of the festival. He explains how they utilized grassroots meet-and-greets to scale their event with no marketing budget, the psychology behind placing creative constraints on filmmakers, and their ambitious vision for the future of Colorado's film industry.

Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 - Intro & Proud American Electrical and Solar

• 00:24 - Building a 72-hour film festival from the ground up

• 03:00 - Leaving the restaurant industry and moving to Colorado

• 07:15 - Wake Up Pueblo & working with Grant Cardone

• 11:45 - On set for Iron Man 2 and Bad Boys 3

• 14:48 - The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce & Sundance coming to Boulder

• 22:51 - Inside the 72-hour film formula & shooting a skydiving promo

• 38:51 - Overcoming personal struggles and finding motivation in family

• 44:00 - Jacob tags in: The origins of their business partnership

• 50:00 - Growing a live event with a zero-dollar marketing budget

• 58:00 - The ultimate vision for the Colorado independent film scene

Connect with the Guests:

• Website: https://www.kickassfilmfest.com/

• Socials: Search for their festival on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube