ConversActions

Despite all our technology, one in three adults in America reports regular loneliness. This week’s guest, Brad Steckart, founder of Sit By Me, shares how his own experience working remotely inspired him to create an app that helps people break down social barriers in everyday spaces like cafes, bars, and libraries.

You’ll hear the research behind the loneliness epidemic, the surprisingly scrappy sticky-note origins of Sit By Me, and how the app makes real-world connections safe, consensual, and effortless. Brad Steckart breaks down the user journey, startup launch lessons, and why community-driven relationships are a win for people – and the local businesses that bring them together.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Loneliness and why connection matters

(06:10) Turning loneliness into real connection

(07:30) The sticky note experiment that sparked it all

(11:31) Simple icebreakers that actually work

(16:56) How conversations build real relationships

(20:36) How social media became passive consumption

(22:44) Creating real-world community connection points

(25:41) Why consistency and belief drive momentum

(27:57) Lessons on traction, timing, and startup reality

Links mentioned in this episode:

Sit By Me App

Brad’s Executive Briefing: Reconnecting in a Digital World

Connect with Bradley Steckart on LinkedIn

Meet Paul Scharfman, the founder of Specialty Cheese Company and one of the most unconventional innovators in American dairy. From getting fired in corporate America to building an award-winning specialty cheese business in Wisconsin, Paul shares the origin story behind his journey, and how a Boston outsider became a Paneer Cheese pioneer.

He breaks down lessons from corporate life, innovation in dairy, and why compassion, adaptability, and honest facts are key to winning in specialty food.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Finding purpose in building a small business

(06:56) Making handmade cheese the traditional way

(10:49) Patents vs trade secrets in food innovation

(12:24) Flexible assets vs brittle business models

(15:08) Dairy trends, diet drugs, and a growing dilemma

(17:53) Why adaptation drives long term success

(22:51) Safety first inside the cheese plant

(24:55) Building trust with facts and transparency

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Paul Scharfman on LinkedIn

Specialty Cheese Company

Today we meet Steve Glynn, the founder and Chief Milwaukee Officer of Experience Milwaukee, and the force behind Milwaukee's Walkers Point Innovation District.

Steve’s entrepreneurial journey includes the start-up Sprinklr, a creative agency built by empowering college students. After selling the business, Steve shifted to connecting people, ideas and opportunity.

In this episode, Steve shares his origin story, the resilience needed to build without an inherited network, and why community is the real growth engine. From margarita-fueled tech meetups to developing the Walker’s Point Innovation District, this conversation explores entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, and community-driven growth.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Experience Milwaukee and the power of giving back

(04:18) The first iPhone moment that changed everything

(07:00) Why entrepreneurship is really about human connection

(10:43) Rebuilding connection through community and innovation

(15:59) Building a vision while life keeps moving

(18:31) Why you must participate in your own rescue

(20:01) Survival, leverage, and the founder mindset

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Steve Glynn on LinkedIn

Experience Milwaukee

Walker’s Point Innovation District

Guy Rehorst is the founder and CEO of Great Lakes Distillery, Wisconsin’s original post-Prohibition distillery. From hobbyist homebrewer to pioneering entrepreneur, discover how curiosity, experimentation, and an engineer’s perspective led him to transform the Wisconsin’s spirits landscape.

Find out about the challenges of building a craft distillery from the ground up, from navigating regulatory hurdles to sourcing local ingredients and championing sustainability. This episode also delivers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs – including the hard realities of sales, market volatility, and the power of adaptability in an ever-evolving industry.

In this episode, we explore: 

(00:00) Pioneering Wisconsin craft distilling

(04:05) Trailblazer’s journey into craft spirits

(06:22) How bourbon is made and planned

(10:06) Reviving absinthe after re-legalization

(15:37) Making spirits vs selling them

(17:37) THC cocktails and production challenges

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Guy Rehorst on LinkedIn

Great Lakes Distillery

Mary Brazeau Brown is the president of Glacial Lake Cranberries and the fourth generation of her family’s farm. She joins ConversActions to explore the traditions, stories, and sustainable practices behind Wisconsin’s iconic fruit.

From the fascinating origin of Glacial Lake Cranberries to the year-round work of growing and harvesting, Mary shares wisdom passed down through generations and lessons in patience, resilience, and gratitude - a wonderful fit for our Thanksgiving episode!

In this episode, we explore: 

(03:57) Spring frost protection and pollination

(07:31) Harvest: tradition and progress

(11:17) Farming: a lesson in faith

(16:07) From idea to product

(19:42) How big is local?

(21:42) Be true to yourself

(23:36) Reality check through honesty

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with:

Mary Brazeau Brown on LinkedIn

Glacial Lake Cranberries

Honestly Cranberry

Grant Pauly, founder of 3 Sheeps Brewing, shares a story that starts in his family’s concrete business and takes a bold turn into beer – after a handshake deal at a local brewpub launched what’s now a thriving, award-winning brewery known for creativity and craftsmanship.

He built 3 Sheeps Brewing from the ground up, balancing passion with practicality, and along the way learned how to build a brand that stands out in a crowded market, manage supplier relationships the right way, let customer demand drive innovation, and keep cash flow king while staying creative. He calls this creative twist 'one off of normal'.

In this episode, we explore: 

(00:00) Barrel-aging beer explained

(04:13) How barrel aging enhances flavor

(07:41) Hops, prices and recipe stability

(11:27) Rebel Kent, a unique amber

(15:12) Crafting drinks for Wisconsin

(18:00) Boosting grocery store sales

(21:50) Why entrepreneurship takes grit

(23:06) Teamwork, challenges, and beer

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Grant Pauly on LinkedIn

3 Sheeps

Andrew Hutchison is the president and head baker at Madison Sourdough. What starts as a story about bread becomes one about craft, resilience, and legacy.

Andrew shares how a fine arts degree – and even getting fired from his first bakery shift – led him to discover the discipline and patience behind great bread and great leadership. He and Bill explore how fermentation, teamwork, and time shape not only dough but culture and business.

If you believe success is built through consistency, not shortcuts, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we explore: 

(00:00) Passion forged through persistence

(05:44) Why the French prefer milder bread

(08:14) Crafting unique, fresh-milled loaves

(10:36) Guiding the magic of fermentation

(13:16) The patience behind perfect shaping

(16:48) Building connections in the Midwest grain network

(19:59) Breeding winter wheat for Wisconsin

(26:23) Planning for business legacy and exit

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Andrew Hutchison on LinkedIn

Madison Sourdough

Host Bill Mitchell sits down with Eric Lund, CEO of S&L Hospitality and a driving force behind Great Wolf Resorts, the brand that reinvented family vacations with the indoor water park.

Eric shares how Great Wolf grew from a clever idea into a nationwide phenomenon, the hurdles of financing a brand-new resort model, and why a people-first culture still drives success. He also looks ahead at the future of hospitality: tech, personalization and keeping family experiences at the core.

In this episode, we explore: 

(00:00) Birth of Great Wolf Lodge

(04:53) First indoor water park success

(06:40) Family-centric water park culture

(11:30) Family fun at Great Wolf Lodge

(14:29) Entrepreneurial journey and business culture

(19:26) Building a smart, leisure-driven culture

(21:05) Sharing unique experiences

(26:57) Adapting to next generation needs

(28:04) Passion for hospitality industry

Links mentioned in this episode:

Connect with Eric Lund on LinkedIn

S&L Hospitality

Great Wolf Lodge

Meredith Baciak, Wellness Coordinator at Miron Construction, joins the show to share how meeting people where they are – whether on bustling job sites or in quiet one-on-ones - is reshaping mental health in a traditionally tough industry. Meredith explains why wellness at Miron goes far beyond tracking steps or reducing insurance costs.

It’s about human connection, fostering a culture where it’s okay not to be okay, and making sure every worker hears the same message: tomorrow needs you.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Holistic workplace wellness approach

(04:24) Redefining strength in construction

(06:39) Workplace stand-down initiative

(11:47) Conversations save lives

(13:46) Persuasion through active listening

(19:10) Tomorrow Needs You campaign impact

(22:03) Evolving values at Miron

(23:38) Focus on one priority at a time

Links mentioned in this episode:

Miron's

Mental Health Hub

Connect with Meredith Baciak on LinkedIn

Sometimes the most essential innovations are the ones you never see. In this episode, Cindy White, President and CEO of Channeled Resources Group, takes us inside the surprising world of release liners – the unsung heroes behind labels, bandages, and packaging.

Cindy shares how the company evolved from traditional recycling to innovative manufacturing, all while championing sustainability and navigating the challenges of tariffs and global trade. You’ll also hear insights on leading a multi-generational family business, adapting to supply chain turbulence, and building a culture of continuous learning.

And if you’ve ever received a package at your door, you’re already part of this story.

In this episode, we explore: 

(00:00) Wisconsin’s specialty paper industry insights

(04:22) Label blanks diversification success

(09:00) Environmental leadership in the label industry

(11:20) Challenges and success in family business

(15:51) Tariff uncertainty amid trade agreement

(18:52) Navigating tariffs in global markets

(21:05) Networking boosts business knowledge

(21:51) Cindy’s top success lessons

Links mentioned in this episode:

Cindy welcomes you to reach out to her!

Contact Channeled Resource Group

Connect with Cindy White on LinkedIn