Small Biz Gone Viral

April 27, 2021 In the finale of Season 1, we are ending a year of 52 weekly episodes by flipping the script and interviewing the regular host - Grant LeBeau. Episode 23 guest, Public Habit founder, and college pal Sydney Badger returns to Small Biz to ask Grant about his first business (Rickaroons), what happened that inspired the creation of Small Biz Gone Viral, and how the guests of Season 1 spurred him to create Mkrday.

Guest's Unsponsor: Ellonos Yogurt. Grant's Unsponsor: Seva Foods April 23, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >3,098,946. USA total deaths: >585,075. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 18.88%. Total active USA cases 6.85 million. New US cases per day: 62,053. USA total cases: 32,735,704 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.92%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 547,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 34,043. S&P 4,108

April 20, 2021 Amani Roberts is a DJ, music producer, professor and author based in Los Angeles, California. A veteran of the hospitality industry with over 20 years at the Mariott before switching to full time DJ, Amani offers a unique combination of music expertise, teaching prowess and business knowledge - basically the perfect podcast guest. His company The Amani Experience takes clients on a music journey at every kind of event. Amani is currently a professor and Center Director at California State University, Fullerton, a student at Berklee College of Music (Boston) and an active music producer, DJ and live streamer. Obviously the event industry was demolished this past year, so get excited to hear Amani, aka DJ AmRo, share what he’s doing to adapt to replace that revenue loss and which adjustments will outlive the pandemic. Spoiler alert, you’re about take a class in Monetizing Twitch 101.

Guest's Unsponsor: Judi Holler. Grant's Unsponsor: Emily's Foods- Gluten-Free Pretzel and Vegan Icing Dip April 16, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >3,011,501. USA total deaths: >579,942. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.26%. Total active USA cases 6.88 million. New US cases per day: 71,363. USA total cases: 32,305,912 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.79%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 576,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 34,200. S&P 4,185

April 13, 2021 Today’s guest is Rachel Bernier-Green, founder of Laine’s Bakeshop - a Chicago social enterprise baked goods manufacturing company committed to catalyzing wealth in the south and west side communities in Chicago. We will talk about the importance of using a company to serve humans, scaling the company to create ownership opportunities and generational wealth for Laine’s Bakeshop employees, and hiring from chronically unemployed communities such as reentering citizens, recovering substance abusers, and the formerly homeless.

Guest's Unsponsor: Janie's Mill. Grant's Unsponsor: Golden Made Kafe April 9, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,927,749. USA total deaths: >574,840. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.63%. Total active world cases: >23.49 million. Total active USA cases 6.88 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >29.29%. New US cases per day: 68,352. USA total cases: 31,802,772 % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.63%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 744,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,800. S&P 4,128

April 6, 2021 My guest today is  your Chief Inspiration Officer, Craig Henderson. He is the epitome of bringing ideas and inspiration to not only the youth but adults alike. As a native of Brooklyn NY, currently residing in Atlanta, he has taken his decades of graphic design, magic and art experience meshed with his entrepreneurial expertise to build multiple businesses and teach younger generations the way of Ibii. Before you listen to this episode, feel free to check out ibiiworld.com if you want some context because Craig's business is wild and unlike anything I (Grant) have ever seen. 

Guest Unsponsor: Ashley Renne. Grant's Unsponsor: Ruby Mountain Paint Co. April 2, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,850,167. USA total deaths: >567,610. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 19.91%. Total active world cases: >22.65 million. Total active USA cases 6.92 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >30.55%. New US cases per day: 65,753. USA total cases: 31,314,625. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.49%. USA National Unemployment: 6.0%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 719,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,153. S&P 4,019

March 30, 2021 Today's guest is Shane Shadeé companies Nosh Mrkt and Le Snack Pak are reinventing the hotel minibar and turning it into a delicious, fresh & affordable snack experience. After traveling to over 500 farmers markets in search of new to market tasty treats, Shane's mission is to introduce the world to the best snacks you have never had or heard of, support small businesses and turn the outdated minibar model into a farm to table snack adventure. Shane was in the middle of revolutionizing the hotel mini bar when COVID hit. Obviously not a great time to depend on a thriving travel and hospitality industry, but she will share how she used that time to focus on R&D, revamp her offerings, and prepare for the inevitable reopening of the tourism world at large.

Guest Unsponsor: Gypsy Jetsetter Yoga. Grant's Unsponsor: Amani Coffee March 26, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,779,101. USA total deaths: >561,142. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.19%. Total active world cases: >21.75 million. Total active USA cases 7.01 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >32.25%. New US cases per day: 60,669. USA total cases: 30,853,032. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.35%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 684,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 33,072. S&P 3,974

March 23, 2021 Today’s guest is Albert Chen - who pivoted from a blockchain moonshot to one of the world’s preeminent makers of high end, stylish face masks. Albert Chen has 10+ years of experience in both the digital and physical space, having founded several e-commerce and blockchain startups since 2011. He co-founded MaskLab in March 2020, synergizing a decade of experience in manufacturing, software development and digital marketing with his father’s 30+ years of mechanical engineering and manufacturing expertise. Albert is also the creator of covidKPI.com - a website that tracks key performance indicators of the coronavirus pandemic. A man of many talents, Albert will share how he pivoted so quickly from blockchain to a facemask manufacturer with worldwide reach.

Guest Unsponsor: Maeli Studios. Grant's Unsponsor: A Dozen Cousins - Soulfully Seasoned Beans March 19, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,712,862. USA total deaths: >554,104. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.43%. Total active world cases: >21.13 million. Total active USA cases 7.26 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >34.37%. New US cases per day: 56,599. USA total cases: 30,425,787. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.21%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 770,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 32,627. S&P 3,913

March 16, 2021 Imagine going through the whole process of quitting your job, taking classes, getting credentialed, inventing skincare products, finding a retail space, and finally hosting your grand opening, only to 1 week later have a national emergency declared. That was the first year in business for Lea Iafornaro - a holistic esthetician, raki practitioner and the founder of Suga Skincare, a skincare and waxing spa. Besides the brick and mortar, Suga Skincare is also a product line merging plant based ingredients with scientific research to provide effective natural products and services. Since facials and waxings weren’t deemed essential, you can probably guess what kind of rollercoaster this past year was for Lea in just her first year of business.

Guest Unsponsor: Paru Tea Bar. Grant's Unsponsor: Good Wave Co. March 12, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,651,003. USA total deaths: >545,544. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.58%. Total active world cases: >20.68 million. Total active USA cases 7.4 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >35.85%. New US cases per day: 56,599. USA total cases: 29,993,423. % of Americans who have had COVID: 9.08%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 712,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 32,778. S&P 3,943

March 9, 2021 This may sound familiar, but Jordan Buckner has two businesses and a podcast. Jordan first co-founded TeaSquares, a line of superfood energy bars designed to help people stay focused and alert so they could achieve their passions. In the midst of the pandemic Jordan took his years of experience in the natural food business and created Foodbevy.com to create a pipeline for Food and Beverage companies to grow from startup to scale by reducing the resource and network gaps for founders.

Guest Unsponsor: Nemi Holisticks. Grant's Unsponsor: Marshall Columbia March 5, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,591,441. USA total deaths: >535,563. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.67%. Total active world cases: >21.78 million. Total active USA cases 8.87 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >40.74%. New US cases per day: 62,158. USA total cases: 29,593,704. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.94%. USA National Unemployment: 6.2%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 745,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,593. S&P 3,841

March 2, 2021 Audrey Holst founded Fortitude and Flow to help people reform their perfectionism so they can reclaim their agency and put their full energy into what really matters. Her work uses a combination of mindfulness and neuroscience tools and combines over a decade of experience teaching yoga with deep knowledge of the nervous system and extensive training and work as a Certified Professional Coach. Through her Fortitude & Flow® Process, Audrey guides individuals and groups through a holistic experience to shift the way they approach themselves and the things that matter to them – for good. She will share what kinds of anxieties she was seeing from her clients at the beginning of the pandemic and how they have evolved, the advice she gives to them, and maybe even sprinkle in some advice for you.

Guest Unsponsor: Cook's Organics. Grant's Unsponsor: Chilaquiles Hot Sauce February 26, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,528,518. USA total deaths: >523,082. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.69%. Total active world cases: >21.9 million. Total active USA cases 9.08 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >41.43%. New US cases per day: 71,050. USA total cases: 29,136,912. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.82%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 730,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 30,932. S&P 3,811

February 23, 2021 Sent home from his junior year at Brown University to finish the semester online, Aidan Reilly and some friends started a project to connect farms with excess produce to food bank. That small group of undergrads have since built Farmlink Project into an overnight non-profit sensation, raising more than $5 million, partnering with Chipotle, arranging delivery of over 25 million pounds of produce, and organizing 500+ students, all in less than 12 months. Aidan will share how he went from heading into his senior year on the water polo team to instead leading Farmlink Project to nationwide acclaim, articles in the New York Times, and much more importantly - on track to double the impact in 2021 aiming to deliver 50 million pounds of produce just in time to food banks in all of the lower 48 states. 

Guest Unsponsor: Food Finders. Grant's Unsponsor: Modern Raised February 19, 2021 Worldwide total COVID deaths: >2,462,767. USA total deaths: >507,746. World's COVID deaths in the USA: 20.62%. Total active world cases: >22,621 million. Total active USA cases 9.292 million. World's active COVID cases in the USA: >41.98%. New US cases per day: 70,436. USA total cases: 28,603,813. % of Americans who have had COVID: 8.67%. USA National Unemployment: 6.3%. Initial unemployment claims filed last week: 861,000. Dow Jones Industrial Average: 31,494. S&P 3,906