In this episode of "Let's Yak," I paddle through Crystal River, Florida, with my longtime friend Mylon Austin Adkins, who turned his love for nature into a thriving clear kayak business. Austin, the first franchisee of Get Up And Go Kayaking, shares his journey from tour guide to entrepreneur, launching his company in 2018 and paying off his initial investment in just three months.

We dive into key insights for building a business: leveraging hands-on experience, finding passion over a mundane 9-to-5, and embracing change as growth. Austin highlights the power of a supportive network—family, friends, and standout hires, who became franchisees themselves. He also offers practical tips: prioritize customer happiness, hire the right team, and stay adaptable, even managing a business from Nashville while staying connected to Crystal River.

This chat is a mix of entrepreneurial wisdom and personal growth, set against the backdrop of manatees and springs at Crystal River. It’s a testament to turning a passion into a buzzing success—and doing it with friends. Tune in for inspiration and actionable advice!

Learn more about Crystal River: https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/florida/crystal-river/ 

Let's Yak on the beautiful Weeki Wachee River as we chat with Tiare “TJ” Fridrich, a manatee biologist from Save the Manatee Club. TJ shares her journey into marine biology, the challenges of manatee conservation, and the importance of public education in protecting these gentle giants. We discuss the impact of human activities on manatees, the importance of warm water habitats, and the efforts to create sustainable ecotourism. Learn about the critical role of community involvement and the steps we can all take to help protect manatees and their environment.

Learn more about Save The Manatee: https://savethemanatee.org/

Learn more about our tours at Weeki Wachee: https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/florida/weeki-wachee/

LET'S YAK with Jeremy Ansley through the beautiful Santa Fe waterway and into Gilchrist Blue Springs. Jeremy has been a part of Get Up And Go Kayaking for 4 years now. He started as a tour guide, then lead tour guide, then manager, and now a franchisee. Learn how an unlikely internet search lead to a job and further into where Jeremy is today. 

Learn more about Gilchrist Blue: https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/florida/gilchrist-blue-springs/

Ep. 1: What's better than a good conversation from a clear kayak? GaryVee gave us the idea to create a podcast while kayaking and thus, "Let's Yak" was born. In this opening episode Ike & Justin chat about Ike's unlikely start to the film industry. Ike has filmed hundreds of music videos and as they paddle through the Jupiter Intercoastal they discuss some common misconceptions, motivations, and more. Ike recounts how he got his start filming music videos, beginning with a high school project that led to paid gigs, which eventually turned into a full-time career. He talks about some of the big name artists he's worked with, his favorite music videos he's filmed, and how pushing himself outside his comfort zone and learning to be patient helped him succeed. Stick around for the end of the episode as Ike gives his take on a conspiracy theory. Follow for more: @J_Buzzi & @IkeyTV