SCORE Houston's Podcast

By SCORE Houston

Our podcast features three series:

Mentor Conversations — In-depth interviews with experienced SCORE mentors, including former CEOs, industry leaders, and successful entrepreneurs

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FAQs about SCORE Houston's Podcast:

How many episodes does SCORE Houston's Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 37 episodes available.

SCORE Houston's Podcast episodes:

July 14, 2026Cancer Scientist to Sugar-Free Chocolate Founder | SCORE Houston Ep. 36
Dr. Beata Lerman spent nearly 20 years as a cancer research scientist with patents in cancer immunotherapy. Then a personal cancer diagnosis led her to build a sugar-free chocolate company safe for diabetics.
On this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala talks with Dr. Lerman about leaving biomedical research for small-business manufacturing, the science behind sugar-free chocolate, and how SCORE mentors Jim Davis and Jim Nordhaus helped her grow from a 200-square-foot kitchen into a full manufacturing facility and retail café. Her company, Sinless Treats (now rebranding as D'Ora Fine Chocolate), is a Houston-based maker of sugar-free, chemical-free chocolate designed to support blood sugar management and reduce inflammation, now expanding into ingredient supply for other consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands.
What we cover:
Leaving cancer immunotherapy research to found a food manufacturing company
The science of sugar, insulin resistance, and metabolic health
Developing the product and scaling a chocolate manufacturing operation
Startup capital, the breakeven timeline, and self-funded growth
Marketing lessons for small-business owners: SEO, GEO, and avoiding costly agency mistakes
How SCORE Houston mentorship supported her path to SBA's Houston District Small Business Manufacturer of the Year
0:00 Intro 1:01 Guest introduction 2:13 Beata's science background 3:40 Leaving research to start Sinless Treats 5:30 The sugar debate 7:41 Cancer diagnosis & the science of sugar 9:33 Learning to make healthy chocolate 11:01 Product testing & feedback 13:54 Early days in a tiny kitchen 17:07 Scaling up & compliance 19:05 Startup costs & financing 20:26 Breaking even & revenue growth 23:18 Quality control 23:38 Marketing lessons 27:19 Retail cafe launch 28:30 Vision & rebrand to D'Ora 30:08 Closing thoughts 30:27 Outro
🔗 D'Ora Fine Chocolate: https://sinlesstreatschocolate.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo-3Yz_BoAs-jE5PDFLiFSlERzLQB0dshlAAPeb7p7cOnaWKI6k
🔗 Free SCORE Houston mentoring: www.score.org/houston
🔗 Subscribe FREE for more Small Business Success Stories: [: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw]
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Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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31min
July 07, 2026From Corporate Careers to Kitchen Gardens: How Three Houston Entrepreneurs Built Garden Girls with SCORE Mentoring. Ep 35
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Houston small business success stories don't get more inspiring than this. In this episode of SCORE Houston Podcast, host Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with the founders of Garden Girls — Nicole Shah, Jen McDonald, and Jill Oliver — three Houston entrepreneurs who transformed a shared passion for gardening into a thriving boutique kitchen garden design company.
Coming from established corporate careers in law, pharmaceutical sales, and speech pathology, these women share how they made the leap from stable professions to small business ownership after 40, the startup challenges they navigated, and how free SCORE Houston mentorship helped them accelerate their growth.
Discover how SCORE mentors Art O'Connor and Greg Helma guided Garden Girls through critical business decisions — from hiring the right accountant and photographer to shaping their expansion strategy. This conversation delivers practical small business insights on startup funding, marketing on a limited budget, building a team, and balancing entrepreneurship with family life.
Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner navigating growth, or considering a mid-career pivot, this episode offers actionable guidance on mentorship, partnership dynamics, and building a small Houston business from the ground up.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Passion can become a profitable small business with the right strategy
Free SCORE mentorship accelerates business growth and decision-making
Identify weaknesses early and hire experts (accountant, photographer, specialists)
Word-of-mouth and community networking can replace expensive advertising
It is never too late to start a business — these founders launched in their 40s
Partnership synergy — combining legal, creative, and operational skill sets — strengthens a business
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction & Welcome 00:40 — Meet the Garden Girls: Nicole, Jen & Jill 01:39 — Career Pivots from Law, Sales & Speech Pathology to Gardening 02:47 — Founding Garden Girls in 2022 05:14 — Building a Turnkey Garden Design Business 09:19 — Marketing, Networking & Word-of-Mouth Growth 11:22 — Overcoming Startup Challenges: Bookkeeping & Hiring 13:20 — Working with SCORE Mentors Art O'Connor & Greg Helma 15:08 — How Mentorship Exceeded Expectations 17:24 — Jill Oliver on Networking & Community Building 19:29 — Gardening Through Houston's Climate Challenges 22:01 — Balancing Business Ownership & Family Life 23:14 — Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 23:49 — Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Garden Girls 24:15 — SCORE Houston Contact Info & Free Mentoring

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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25min
June 30, 2026How Do You Fund a Deep Tech Startup Without Venture Capital? Ep 34
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In this episode of the Go Houston Podcast, host PV Bala of SCORE Houston sits down with Dr. Bryton Praslicka, Founder & CEO of Fluxworks LLC — a Conroe, Texas deep tech startup manufacturing revolutionary magnetic gears that transmit power using magnets instead of metal teeth, with no lubrication, less noise, and far less maintenance.
🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:
How Dr. Praslicka turned his Texas A&M PhD research into a NASA-funded startup
How Fluxworks LLC won a $1.69 million Army SBIR contract while still in graduate school
Why magnetic gears are critical to NASA's Artemis moon mission and the International Space Station
How to fund a deep tech startup without venture capital using SBIR grants, SBA loans, and pitch competitions
What it takes to land contracts with NASA, the US Army, and the Department of Defense
Lessons learned from the Rice University Business Plan Competition
Why Dr. Praslicka turned down a $2 million investment offer
How Fluxworks LLC became profitable in 2023 and relocated to Houston, Texas
🏆 Guest Highlights: ✅ Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree ✅ 2026 SBA Houston District Innovation Award recipient ✅ Rice Business Plan Competition winner ✅ Supplier to NASA, US Army & Department of Defense ✅ Technology aboard the International Space Station
Subscribe for more inspiring Houston small business success stories every week!

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Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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38min
June 23, 2026Ep 33: SpaceX Business Lessons: What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Elon Musk's First Principles Thinking.
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What if the same engineering principles that took SpaceX to the top of the global launch industry could help your Houston salon, bakery, contracting firm, or retail shop run leaner and more profitably?
In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, we translate Elon Musk's exact operational frameworks — step by step — into actionable strategies for Main Street business owners. This isn't about getting to Mars. It's about the physics of building a business that actually works.
🔩 THE 10 SPACEX PRINCIPLES FOR SMALL BUSINESS:
First Principles Thinking — Strip everything down to its core atoms before accepting industry assumptions
The Idiot Index — Measure the markup between raw materials and finished cost; high ratios mean you're subsidizing someone else's inefficiency
Ruthless Simplification — The best part is no part; the best process is no process
The 10% Add-Back Rule — If you weren't forced to add back at least 10% of what you cut, you didn't cut deep enough
Vertical Integration — When suppliers overcharge, build the capability in-house
Standardization — Build a Model T, not a custom car; make the customer adapt to your efficient process
Build, Test, Learn — Failures are data points, not disasters; crash the rocket and gather the data
Urgency — If a timeline is long, it's wrong; launch the simplest version fast
Missionaries, Not Mercenaries — Hire people who care about the mission, not just the paycheck
Lead from the Front — Spend 50% of your time in the operation, not behind a desk; all bad news should be given loudly and often
🔄 THE FLYWHEEL: First Principles finds the waste → Vertical Integration eliminates it → Standardization makes it profitable → Repeat.
💡 Closing question to sit with: "How fast are your feedback loops?" Are you waiting months to see if a new idea works, or are you finding a way to crash the rocket, gather the data, and get back to reality today?
🤝 You don't have to build this alone. SCORE Houston offers free mentoring from experienced business professionals. Visit score.org and connect with the Houston chapter.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Intro & SCORE Houston Overview 0:15 – Why SpaceX & Elon Musk? 1:15 – First Principles Thinking 2:00 – The Idiot Index 3:49 – Ruthless Simplification 4:23 – The 10% Add-Back Rule 5:09 – Vertical Integration 5:31 – Real Cost Savings Examples 6:11 – The McDocker Story 6:33 – Local Business Applications 7:12 – Standardization Strategy 8:31 – Build, Test, Learn 9:46 – The Urgency Principle 10:45 – Balancing Speed & Customer Trust 11:07 – Hiring Missionaries, Not Mercenaries 11:45 – Lead from the Front 12:46 – Money as Fuel 13:08 – The SpaceX Flywheel 13:48 – How Fast Are Your Feedback Loops? 14:24 – Free Mentoring at score.org Houston

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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15min
June 16, 2026 Episode 32: How to Start & Grow a Small Business | Free Mentoring, Social Media & Community Networking
Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!
How do you turn a family BBQ restaurant into an award-winning small business? In this episode of Small Business Success Stories, SCORE Houston mentor Dr Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Marie and Justin Bock — owners of Ryan's Smokehouse in Webster, Texas. Justin and Marie left South Dakota, uprooted their family, and took over a 24-year family restaurant from Marie's aunt. With zero prior business ownership experience, they grew sales 15–20% annually, expanded from 1 to 7 employees, and were named the 2026 SBA Houston District Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.
In this episode you'll learn:
✅ How to buy an existing business and grow it fast
✅ How free mentoring from SCORE & SBDC helped them succeed
✅ How to use social media to grow a small business
✅ How to find and keep good employees
✅ How to build community presence without a big marketing budget
✅ Whether to buy a business or start from scratch
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:41 Meet Marie & Justin — Ryan's Smokehouse
01:56 Moving from South Dakota to Texas
03:44 Buying a family business vs starting cold
05:04 Getting mentorship from SCORE & SBDC
06:44 Forming an LLC — what you need to know
07:50 Secret sauce: social media & community networking
10:30 Finding the right employees
14:13 Overcoming the employee-to-owner mindset shift
16:36 Buying vs. starting a business cold
20:43 What's next — expanding to a second location
21:31 Closing thoughts & how to reach SCORE Houston
#SmallBusiness, #BusinessMentoring, #HowToStartABusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth, #Entrepreneur, #SCORE, #SBA, #BBQRestaurant, #BusinessOwner, #SuccessStory, #SocialMediaMarketing, #HoustonBusiness, #FamilyBusiness, #StartupAdvice
Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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24min
June 10, 2026 Ep 31: Small Business Lessons: How One Woman Built a Houston Breakfast Empire
Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!
In this episode of Small Business Success Stories at SCORE Houston, host and SCORE Mentor PV Bala sits down with Sarah Lieberman, founder of Dandelion Cafe — Houston's beloved breakfast and brunch destination with three locations across the city. Sarah shares how she left a career in oil and gas to follow her passion for hospitality, launched her first cafe with just $40,000, no collateral, and a lot of grit, and grew it into a thriving small business that survived two hurricanes and a global pandemic.
You'll hear the real story behind securing startup funding with no bank loan, the pivot that took her from coffee shop to restaurant, how SCORE mentorship shaped her business plan, and what it takes to reach break even, scale to multiple locations, and land a spot on Good Morning America. Sarah is the 2026 SBA Houston District Small Business Person of the Year — and her story is proof that drive, flexibility, and community are the real ingredients for success.
🎙️ Host: PV Bala, SCORE Mentor, SCORE Houston 🍳 Guest: Sarah Lieberman, Founder, Dandelion Cafe Houston
Topics covered: how to start a restaurant, small business funding, SBA loans, micro-lenders, restaurant startup costs, coffee shop vs. restaurant profit, scaling a small business, small business mentorship, SCORE Houston, Houston entrepreneurs, breakfast restaurant business, women in business, small business success stories.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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31min
June 02, 2026 Episode 30: How to Start a Business: Expert Advice on Planning, Funding & Sales
Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!
In this episode, Dr. Jeff Rickon sits down with Martin Estill — serial entrepreneur, former Chief Revenue Officer, and SCORE Houston volunteer mentor — for an in-depth conversation about how to start, grow, fund, and scale a small business.
With 30+ years of real-world experience across oil & gas, software, retail, and B2B marketing, Martin breaks down the exact mistakes most entrepreneurs make — and what to do instead.
In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to write a business plan (and why most people skip it — and fail) ✅ Where to get funding for your startup — from your own pocket to angel investors & venture capital ✅ How to get your first customers using referential sales (without paying for ads) ✅ The #1 mistake new entrepreneurs make going from idea to execution ✅ How to build a sales & marketing strategy that actually works ✅ When and how to scale your business and delegate effectively ✅ How to find a business partner and structure equity deals ✅ How to sell or exit a business for maximum value ✅ Why SCORE mentoring is the best-kept secret for small business owners
🕐 Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction
03:00 – Martin's background in oil & gas entrepreneurship
07:00 – The 3 biggest mistakes small business owners make
12:00 – How to write a business plan
18:00 – How to fund your business (funding hierarchy explained)
25:00 – How to get your first customers (the bullseye model)
32:00 – How to scale, delegate & sell your business
38:00 – How SCORE mentoring works & how to get free help
Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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36min
May 26, 2026They left Mexico City and Built Houston's Music Hub/ The Band Room Ep 29
Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!
How did two passionate educators turn a love of music into a thriving Houston small business? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Tamara Richter and Fernando Cervantes, co-founders of The Band Room — a music school and community space in Houston, TX.
Special thanks to SCORE Mentor Art O'Connor for guiding The Band Room on their entrepreneurial journey through free, confidential business mentoring.
Learn how they:
Started a small business from the ground up
Leveraged free business mentoring through SCORE with mentor Art O'Connor
Combined education + music to build a creative community
Grew their business with the help of the SBA (Small Business Administration)
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or just love Houston's creative scene — this episode is packed with inspiration and real-world advice.
Get FREE small business mentoring at: www.score.org/houston
Topics Covered:
How to start a small business in Houston
Free small business resources & mentorship
Music school business model
Entrepreneurship tips for beginners
SCORE mentoring success stories
Small Business Administration (SBA) programs
Subscribe/ Follow for weekly small business success stories, entrepreneur interviews, and free business advice from SCORE Houston mentors.
Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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25min
May 19, 2026Digital Marketing for Small Business: Grow on a Tiny Budget Ep 28
Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music: Amazon Music— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube — Subscribe and hit the bell!
💬 Share your thoughts: scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com"
Are you a local business owner struggling to get customers online? This episode is for you.
Every year, thousands of entrepreneurs open their doors — but stay invisible to 97% of their potential customers. In this episode, we break down a proven digital marketing and social media marketing strategy specifically designed for local business owners in their 30s and 40s who are done with the corporate grind and ready to grow.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
Why your local business is invisible on Google — and how to fix it for free
How to fully optimize your Google Business Profile to rank on page one
Which social media platform is actually right for YOUR business (and why trying to be everywhere is killing you)
The Give, Give, Give, Ask content framework to stop sounding like a used car salesman
How a 5% increase in customer retention can grow profits by up to 95%
Why SMS marketing gets a 98% open rate — and how to use it
When (and only when) to spend money on Google Ads and Meta Ads
A complete 30-day digital marketing sprint to go from invisible to fully booked
Practical Examples Covered:
The episode walks through scenarios including:
Senior care providers building local visibility
Tutoring centers attracting families organically
Daycares leveraging reviews for trust-building
Salons choosing the right social media platforms
These illustrate common challenges local businesses face and practical solutions.
⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 – Why 97% of local businesses are invisible online
0:45 – The block party analogy every entrepreneur needs to hear
3:00 – Google Business Profile: your free foundation
8:00 – Choosing the right social media platform for your business
14:00 – The Give, Give, Give, Ask content strategy
20:00 – Reviews, retention & SMS marketing
28:00 – When to run paid ads (Google & Meta)
35:00 – Your 30-day digital marketing sprint
Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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19min
May 12, 2026Episode 27: Secure and Steady: Phylicia Hill on Growing a Cybersecurity Firm from the Ground Up.
In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala sits down with Phylicia Hill, Co-Founder and CEO/Managing Director of H5 Strategic Alliance — a Houston-based cybersecurity and IT professional services firm she co-founded with her husband James Hill in 2013.
Phylicia shares her remarkable journey from a career in education and school administration to building a thriving cybersecurity company that serves enterprise clients across healthcare, financial services, and beyond. She opens up about the patience it took to grow the business over five years while working full-time, navigating Hurricane Harvey, and putting family first — all before going full-time in 2018.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How Phylicia merged her business acumen with her husband's deep technical expertise
Why patience and preparation are the foundation of sustainable business growth
How the COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point that accelerated their growth
The unique talent model that powers H5's delivery across multiple states
How small businesses can protect themselves from today's AI-driven cyber threats
Why mentorship is non-negotiable for minority and women entrepreneurs
What's next for H5, including their new Ignite managed services platform
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or simply curious about the cybersecurity landscape, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom and practical advice.
Phylicia Hill was recognized as the SBA Houston District Minority Business Owner of the Year.
About SCORE Houston Podcast: SCORE Houston brings you inspiring stories and actionable insights from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Houston area. Subscribe for new episodes every week!
Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.
Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.
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33min

FAQs about SCORE Houston's Podcast:

How many episodes does SCORE Houston's Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 37 episodes available.