Arick sits down with Ross Widmoyer, President & CEO of the historic Faribault Mill—one of America’s most iconic heritage brands. Together, they explore how a 150-year-old mill weaves its story into the modern era, balancing tradition with innovation.They also dive into a timely conversation about global trade and tariffs: how Faribault Mill, sourcing nearly all its materials within 20 miles of its Minnesota facility, has become a surprising beneficiary of shifting trade policies—while still working to steer clear of politics in a charged global economy.It’s a conversation about brand, resilience, and what it takes to carry a great American story forward.

This week, we’re joined by Tyrre Burks—a former pro football player and the founder of Players Health, a company that’s transforming how we think about safety and support in amateur athletics. 

Tyrre Burks has turned personal struggles and near-failures into a powerful narrative that fuels Players Health’s mission. By leveraging his personal story, Tyrre has built trust with investors, partners, and customers, proving that great entrepreneurs don’t just build businesses, they craft stories that inspire belief. 

Originally from Chicago, Tyrre came to Minnesota to play football at Winona State—and he’s been building ever since. Drawing on his own journey through the ranks of amateur and professional sports, he saw the urgent need for a better system to protect young athletes. Now, with over $100 million raised, Player’s Health is leading the charge with an insurance and risk management platform built to keep athletes safe—on and off the field. 

With NIL, media attention, and the business of youth sports exploding, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. Don’t miss it. 

In this episode of Leveraged Storytelling powered by Tunheim, I sit down with Charlie Youakim, co-founder and CEO of Sezzle — the fastest-growing company on the NASDAQ this year and a proud Minnesota fintech built on values as much as velocity. 

We dive into Sezzle’s core mission: helping the next generation of consumers build strong financial habits through its Buy Now, Pay Later platform — while simultaneously delivering the kind of performance Wall Street expects. Charlie shares how he’s managed to keep the company anchored in purpose while scaling aggressively in a competitive space. 

We also get into his personal journey — how a previous startup exit didn’t automatically open fundraising doors, and how that experience became the foundation for smarter, sharper decision-making the second time around. We talk about what it takes to raise capital and recruit talent from the Midwest instead of the coasts, and why that’s shaped a unique kind of resilience within the company’s culture. 

This episode is full of insights on leadership, perseverance, and the long-game mindset that defines Sezzle today — a breakout company many Minnesotans don’t yet realize is thriving right in their own backyard. 

Hosted by Arick Wierson. 

Arick sits down with Jazz Hampton to explore how a startup born from tragedy—after the deaths of Philando Castile and George Floyd—became a breakout national story. As co-founder and CEO of TurnSignl, Jazz landed hundreds of top-tier media hits (NBC, PBS, USA Today, The Observer), using bold, mission-driven storytelling to expand from Minnesota to all 50. Now, as he sets his sights on Minneapolis City Hall, Jazz reflects on the power of momentum, message, and media. You’re not going to want to miss this latest episode of Leveraged Storytelling, presented by Tunheim.

On this episode of Leveraged Storytelling—presented by Tunheim—host Arick Wierson sits down with none other than Gene Munster, the tech investing legend and Wall Street seer. Gene is the go-to authority on Big Tech’s Magnificent Seven and a master at decoding what makes tech leaders truly iconic.In this episode, Arick and Gene dive into why storytelling isn’t just a soft skill for tech CEOs—it’s the ultimate differentiator. They’ll rate some of the industry’s biggest names—Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, even Elon Musk—and unpack why great tech, a strong team, and perfect market fit still aren’t enough without the right narrative. For Gene, storytelling is often the missing piece that separates a great CEO from a legendary one. This is a must-listen masterclass in the power of narrative.

On the inaugural episode of Leveraged Storytelling, Arick sits down with Shelly Kohan to discuss her roles as a Contributor to Forbes, a Professor, and what makes a good story.