Inside Business

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with DeMoine Adams—former Nebraska football standout, entrepreneur, speaker, author, and coach—for a conversation about what happens when one chapter of your life ends and you have to figure out what comes next.

DeMoine shares his journey to Nebraska football and the lessons the game taught him about discipline, competition, accountability, teamwork, and pursuing long-term goals. But some of the most valuable lessons came after football, when he faced a challenge familiar to many high performers: separating who you are from what you do.

The conversation explores DeMoine's transition from athlete to entrepreneur and professional speaker, what it takes to build credibility all over again, and why starting over can sometimes be the beginning of your greatest growth.

Travis, Gary, and DeMoine also dig into the mindset of high performers—why success is usually built long before anyone notices, how relationships create opportunities, why failure should be viewed as feedback, and why the best leaders see leadership as service rather than authority.

The discussion ultimately tackles an even bigger question: How should we define success? Is it income, titles, recognition, and accomplishments—or is real success measured by family, relationships, personal growth, purpose, legacy, and the impact we have on others?

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, facing a major transition, or wondering what's next in your own life, DeMoine's story is a powerful reminder that your identity is bigger than your job—and your greatest impact may still be ahead of you.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with David Staenberg for an inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the power of refusing to let your past define your future.

David shares his remarkable personal journey of overcoming addiction and the unexpected battle that followed. After getting clean, he found himself replacing one struggle with another, gaining weight until he reached 530 pounds. Rather than accepting that as his new reality, David committed himself to a years-long transformation that ultimately brought him back to a healthy weight and a completely different outlook on life.

The conversation explores the mental challenges behind lasting change, the discipline required to stay committed when progress is slow, and the importance of taking ownership of your future one decision at a time. Travis, Gary, and David also discuss how the lessons learned through personal adversity translate directly into business, leadership, and everyday life.

Whether you've faced setbacks in business, struggled with personal challenges, or are simply looking for motivation to make a meaningful change, this episode is a powerful reminder that transformation doesn't happen overnight—but with persistence, it is possible.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with John Lentz, founder of Lentz Law, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it really means to build a business centered on serving people.

John shares the story behind launching and growing his law firm, discussing the challenges of building a team, creating a strong culture, and standing out in a highly competitive industry. The conversation goes far beyond legal topics, focusing instead on the leadership principles and business decisions that have shaped his firm's success.

Travis, Gary, and John explore the importance of reputation, hiring the right people, and developing systems that allow a business to grow without sacrificing the client experience. John also talks about the value of community involvement, the lessons he's learned through adversity, and why long-term success is built on trust, consistency, and relationships.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, professional, or business leader, this episode offers practical insights on building a purpose-driven organization, leading with integrity, and creating a business that earns the confidence of both clients and employees.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish welcome Erika Jensen, owner of The Chocolate Season, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and building a brand that stands out in a competitive marketplace.

What started as a passion for creating exceptional desserts has grown into one of Nebraska's most recognizable specialty food businesses. Erika shares the journey behind The Chocolate Season, the challenges of growing a company in the food industry, and the importance of continually evolving to meet changing customer expectations.

Travis, Gary, and Erika discuss product innovation, creating memorable customer experiences, and the balancing act of maintaining quality while scaling a business. Erika also shares lessons learned from navigating economic challenges, leading a growing team, and building a loyal customer base through consistency, creativity, and outstanding service.

Whether you're in retail, hospitality, manufacturing, or any customer-focused business, this episode is filled with practical insights on branding, perseverance, and turning a passion into a thriving business that customers can't wait to come back to.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Shelly Ruwe of CFO Systems for an inspiring conversation about leadership, personal growth, and building organizations where people thrive.

Drawing from her experience in executive leadership, coaching, and business operations, Shelly shares why the greatest challenge facing many companies isn't strategy—it's developing people. The conversation explores the importance of intentional leadership, creating healthy organizational cultures, and helping employees reach their full potential.

Travis, Gary, and Shelly also discuss the power of mindset, navigating change, and why successful leaders focus as much on people as they do on profits. Shelly offers practical advice on overcoming obstacles, leading with authenticity, and creating environments where accountability and trust become competitive advantages.

Whether you're leading a company, managing a team, or looking to become a stronger leader yourself, this episode delivers practical insights and inspiring stories that will challenge the way you think about leadership, culture, and personal development.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish welcome Clark Bellin, founder or Bellwether Wealth, for a thoughtful conversation about building wealth with purpose and planning for the future.

Clark shares why financial planning is about much more than investments—it's about creating a roadmap that aligns your money with your goals, values, and the life you want to live. The discussion explores common financial planning mistakes, the importance of long-term thinking, and why successful business owners need a strategy that extends beyond simply growing their companies.

Travis, Gary, and Clark also dive into retirement planning, managing risk, succession planning, and how entrepreneurs can balance investing in their businesses while still preparing for their personal financial future. Clark explains how sound financial decisions today can create opportunities and peace of mind for years to come.

Whether you're a business owner, professional, or someone looking to make smarter financial decisions, this episode offers practical advice on creating a plan that helps you build, protect, and enjoy the wealth you've worked so hard to earn.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Carter Krei, certified business coach with ActionCOACH, to explore what separates businesses that consistently grow from those that simply stay busy.

Carter shares the common patterns he sees while coaching business owners across a variety of industries and explains why so many entrepreneurs become trapped working in their business instead of on it. The conversation dives into goal setting, accountability, leadership, delegation, and the systems that allow a company to scale without relying on the owner for every decision.

Travis, Gary, and Carter also discuss the mindset shifts required to move from being a technician to becoming a true business leader. From improving team performance and creating a stronger company culture to developing measurable strategies for growth, Carter offers practical advice that business owners can begin applying immediately.

Whether you're just starting your entrepreneurial journey or leading an established company looking for its next stage of growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights on building a business that works for you—not because of you.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Anthony Dudas to discuss stepping into a leadership role at one of Nebraska's most important transportation hubs.

After taking over as Executive Director of the Lincoln Airport, Anthony shares what it's like to inherit an organization with a strong foundation while bringing his own vision for the future. The conversation explores the challenges of leading a complex operation, building trust with employees and stakeholders, and balancing day-to-day responsibilities with long-term strategic growth.

Travis and Gary also dive into the business side of airports—how communities compete for commercial air service, the economic impact airports have on regional growth, and the partnerships required to attract new opportunities. Anthony explains why airports are much more than places where planes take off and land—they're major drivers of business development, logistics, manufacturing, and economic investment.

The discussion also covers leadership transitions, learning a new organization, and the importance of listening before leading. Anthony shares his perspective on what's ahead for Lincoln Airport and the opportunities he sees for the future.

Whether you're interested in leadership, economic development, aviation, or what it takes to guide a large organization through change, this episode offers an engaging look at the business behind one of the region's most vital assets.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish sit down with Amy Jurgens, Director of Entrepreneurship at Southeast Community College Center for Entrepreneurship, to discuss what it really takes to turn an idea into a successful business.

Drawing from her experience working with entrepreneurs at every stage of the business lifecycle, Amy shares insights into the challenges new business owners face, the common mistakes that derail promising ventures, and the resources available to help entrepreneurs gain traction and grow. The conversation explores the importance of business planning, mentorship, networking, and developing the skills necessary to move from concept to execution.

Travis, Gary, and Amy also discuss Nebraska's entrepreneurial ecosystem, the role education plays in fostering innovation, and why entrepreneurship is a viable path for people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Amy offers practical advice for aspiring business owners, students, and professionals considering launching a venture of their own.

The discussion goes beyond startups and into the mindset of entrepreneurship itself—covering problem-solving, resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to take calculated risks in pursuit of opportunity.

Whether you're thinking about starting a business, growing an existing company, or simply interested in the entrepreneurial journey, this episode provides valuable insights from someone dedicated to helping the next generation of business owners succeed.

This week on Inside Business, Travis Filing and Gary Tharnish welcome leadership expert, author, and business coach Pat Miller for a conversation about leadership in a rapidly changing business world.

Pat shares practical insights on how business owners and leaders can embrace artificial intelligence without losing the human skills that make organizations successful. Rather than focusing on technology for technology’s sake, the discussion centers on how AI can help leaders become more effective, make better decisions, and create more time to focus on the areas where they provide the greatest value.

The conversation also explores one of Pat’s core leadership philosophies: most leaders are delegating the wrong things. Pat explains why delegating tasks often creates frustration, while delegating outcomes creates ownership, accountability, and better results. He shares practical examples that business owners can immediately apply within their own organizations.

Travis, Gary, and Pat also discuss leadership development, adapting to change, building stronger teams, and why continuous learning has become a necessity rather than a luxury in today's business environment.

Whether you're leading a company, managing a team, or preparing for the next phase of growth, this episode is packed with actionable leadership lessons designed to help you work smarter, lead more effectively, and stay ahead of the curve.