STARTUP or SHUTUP! | Small Business & Entrepreneurship Podcast with Colin Fraley

Rob Finlay is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and bestselling author of Beyond the Building and Hey, Dad…, a life-advice book inspired by his journey as a father of four. Over the past 25+ years, he’s built and successfully exited four companies, pioneered debt optimization strategies in commercial real estate, and founded Thirty Capital and Defease With Ease, helping advise billions in transactions. Today, Rob’s focus spans AI, data analytics, leadership, and sustainable agriculture — proving that business success and long-term impact can go hand in hand.

In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley dives deep into Rob’s entrepreneurial journey — from scaling in volatile markets to balancing profit with purpose.

Conversation Breakdown:

• Rob’s early spark for entrepreneurship and lessons from multiple business exits

• The evolution of commercial real estate and how AI is transforming the industry

• What sustainable agriculture taught him about patience, resilience, and leadership

• The story behind his bestselling books Beyond the Building and Hey, Dad…

• His “Shut Up Moment” — the leap that changed everything

In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Ken Barton — a former Chicago volleyball teammate turned real estate investor and now tech founder of Offa, the Seed-stage app connecting investors to off-market properties faster (think Tinder for real estate deals). Ken shares how he went from buying his first property in Orlando to spotting major pain points in the real estate market, building Offa, launching in the app stores, and preparing for his Seed round. We dive into the biggest challenges so far, the vision for Offa’s growth, and what it takes to turn frustration into innovation.

If you’re interested in real estate investing, proptech, or the journey of launching a Seed-stage startup, this conversation is packed with insights and energy.

This episode is sponsored by PeerFounder.com — where founders fund their ideas and funders support them with optional cash returns.

Entrepreneurs waste countless hours doing everything themselves — but delegation is the real growth hack. In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Renee Hastings, CEO of Executive Help Now! and host of Renee Speaks, to uncover how she scaled a virtual assistance agency that helps leaders free up time, grow faster, and even launch successful podcasts. Sponsored by PeerFounder.com.

Episode Breakdown

• Intro & Renee’s Origin Story

• Building Executive Help Now!

• Delegation & Scaling for Founders

• Podcasting & Media Ops

• Fun Fact Break

• Shutup Moment

• Future of Work & Final Insights

💡 Interested in being a guest on the show? Click here to apply!

In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin Fraley sits down with Melinda Jackson, founder of Melinda Jackson Public Relations, to talk about building a PR agency rooted in authenticity, earned media, and organic storytelling.

From her upbringing in North Carolina, to breaking into the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, Melinda shares her journey of burnout, reinvention, and creating a PR firm that champions clients she truly believes in.

You’ll learn:

• How authenticity is becoming the new metric for PR success

• Actionable PR tips for solopreneurs, side-hustlers, and founders on a budget

• The importance of balancing mental health with entrepreneurship

• Melinda’s lessons in starting and scaling her own agency

• A “Shut Up! Moment” story you won’t want to miss

This episode is sponsored by PeerFounder.com — the launchpad for solopreneurs, creators, and dreamers ready to crowdfund their business ideas. PeerFounder’s crowdfunding launches October 1st!

📌 Learn more about Melinda here:

• Website: melindajacksonpr.com

• Instagram: @melindajacksonpr

• LinkedIn: Melinda Jackson

🎙️ Interested in being a guest? Click Here!

How Dinora Built Luxuria: Chicago Nightlife, Beauty Business & Trans Latina Entrepreneurship

What does it take to build a nightlife empire rooted in beauty, identity, and community?

In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, Colin sits down with Dinora — a trans Latina powerhouse, professional beautician, and cofounder of Luxuria Productions, one of Chicago’s most vibrant queer nightlife collectives.

From growing up first-gen in a Mexican immigrant household to stepping into her truth as a trans woman, Dinora takes us on a powerful journey of resilience, reinvention, and radical joy. She opens up about breaking into the beauty industry, carving out her space in nightlife, and what it really takes to go from working for someone else to building your own table.

💄 From brushes to business
🌙 From behind the scenes to headlining the scene
💥 And from hesitation to her “Shutup moment” — this episode is a must-listen.

🧠 We cover:

• Growing up first-gen and trans in America

• Navigating the beauty industry as a trans Latina

• Starting Luxeria and claiming space in nightlife

• Entrepreneurship, funding, and staying true to your vision

• What’s next for the future of nightlife in 2025

• Dinora’s shutup moment that changed everything

✨ Follow Dinora: @TheRealDinora
📲 Follow the show on IG & TikTok: @startuporshutup.pod
🎧 New episodes every other Tuesday.

If you're building something bold — or even thinking about it — this episode is your permission to start.

In this episode of Startup or Shutup!, host Colin (@NurseColin) sits down with global travel entrepreneur Vincent Wong — founder of Chubit Travel and VYVEM Tours — to unpack his inspiring journey from Brooklyn to Colombia. Vincent shares how he turned his personal passion for travel into a full-time business, what it takes to run international companies, and why Medellín changed his life.

We talk entrepreneurship, leadership, culture shock, concierge-level service, and making big bets on your dreams — even in a pandemic. If you’ve ever dreamed of launching a business in another country, this is your roadmap.

→ Powered by @PeerFounder — where creators and solopreneurs fund their next big idea.

🎧 Topics covered include:

• Vincent’s entrepreneurial journey from NYC to Medellín

• Founding Chubit Travel and launching VYVEM Tours during a global shutdown

• What it’s like building and managing teams across borders

• Creating luxury travel experiences in a crowded market

• Cultural values learned from Colombia

• Vincent’s personal “Shutup!” moment when everything was on the line

• How to start a travel business from scratch

• Mistakes, mindset, mentorship, and meaningful growth

• Rapid fire round: window vs aisle, dream destinations, and $500 startup ideas

• What's next for Vincent — and why he’s not done yet

📲 Tag us when you listen:
@NurseColin | @vincentwong | @PeerFounder | @StartuporShutup.pod

🛫 Subscribe, share, and support the dreamers building their future from the ground up.
#StartupOrShutup #TravelEntrepreneur #MedellinBusiness #ChubitTravel #VYVEMTours #PeerFounder #NurseColin #LatAmBusiness #FounderStories #Solopreneurs #GlobalEntrepreneurs

In this electrifying episode of Startup or Shutup, Nurse Colin sits down with DJ, rapper, performance artist, and FUTUREHOOD co-founder CoolMomWallace—a Chicago-based creative force known for turning dance floors into portals.

Fresh off his Boiler Room Chicago set (which Colin attended live), CoolMomWallace opens up about blending music, ritual, and queer identity to transform nightlife into something sacred and liberating. From DJing for Beyoncé in Houston to building FUTUREHOOD as a platform for culture and community, this episode dives deep into artistry, intention, and impact.

🎧 What you'll hear in this episode:

• The origin story of CoolMomWallace and what the name means

• Behind-the-scenes of his Boiler Room Chicago performance

• What it felt like DJing for Beyoncé in her hometown of Houston

• How FUTUREHOOD is redefining queer community through music

• His multidisciplinary approach to DJing, rap, and performance

• Real talk advice for emerging creatives and event organizers

• Full-length Boiler Room footage featured at the end

If you care about culture, creativity, or building spaces where people can actually be free—this one’s for you.

🎶 New episodes drop every other Tuesday on Startup or Shutup
📲 Follow us @startuporshutup.pod

When life falls apart, could sharing your story online help you heal — and help others do the same?

In this powerful episode of Startup or Shutup, host Nurse Colin sits down with Marissa Wilkenson (@Rizz326), a small-town girl from Quincy, Michigan, who transformed her heartbreak into hope by sharing her raw, honest journey on TikTok. Her viral videos about self-love, mental health, and rebuilding your life have inspired thousands to start picking up their own pieces.

Marissa opens up about hitting rock bottom, finding courage to be vulnerable online, and how her TikTok community became a lifeline. She shares what it really takes to fall in love with yourself again and how she’s turning her healing journey into a children’s book.

If you’ve ever felt lost, broken, or like your story doesn’t matter — this conversation will show you that healing is possible, and your voice deserves to be heard.

When life falls apart, could sharing your story online help you heal — and help others do the same?

In this powerful episode of Startup or Shutup, host Nurse Colin sits down with Marissa (@Rizz326), a small-town girl from Quincy, Michigan, who transformed her heartbreak into hope by sharing her raw, honest journey on TikTok. Her viral videos about self-love, mental health, and rebuilding your life have inspired thousands to start picking up their own pieces.

Marissa opens up about hitting rock bottom, finding courage to be vulnerable online, and how her TikTok community became a lifeline. She shares what it really takes to fall in love with yourself again and how she’s turning her healing journey into a children’s book.

If you’ve ever felt lost, broken, or like your story doesn’t matter — this conversation will show you that healing is possible, and your voice deserves to be heard.

What happens when your life falls apart — and you decide to tell the truth about it online?

In this powerful episode of Startup or Shutup, host Nurse Colin sits down with Marissa aka @Rizz326, a small-town girl from Quincy, Michigan, whose honest and emotional TikToks about healing, self-love, and personal growth have touched millions.

Marissa opens up about how she rebuilt her life after hitting rock bottom, how going viral on TikTok helped her fall in love with herself again, and how she’s now turning her journey into a published children’s book.

Whether you're a creator, a dreamer, or someone just trying to heal — this episode is for you.