Serge Falcoz-Vigne has spent decades in the restaurant industry, from the kitchens and restaurants of France to becoming the owner of Bodega Tapas, Wine & Rum in downtown Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Serge sits down with Randy Kerr to share his journey from learning the culinary trade in France to operating restaurants, moving to the United States, and building his place in the North Carolina food scene.

They discuss the difference between being a great chef and being a successful restaurant owner, the challenges of staffing and controlling costs, creating an experience customers want to return to, and what decades in the hospitality industry have taught Serge about business and life.

It’s a conversation about food, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and what really goes into keeping a restaurant successful.

Big Nick Calo went from experimenting with moonshine recipes to winning Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners: Master Distiller with a peanut butter banana moonshine created during a $30 challenge.

In this episode, Big Nick shares the story behind his winning recipe, his experience competing on television, and how the product eventually became an officially licensed Elvis Presley moonshine produced in partnership with South Mountain Distilling Company.

We discuss what it takes to turn a successful recipe into a commercially produced product, including scaling production, developing packaging, navigating licensing requirements, building partnerships, and earning recognition through industry competitions.

Big Nick also opens up about one of the most difficult parts of growing an alcohol brand: distribution. We talk about the challenges of getting a product into stores, expanding into new markets, creating demand, working with distributors, and making sure a growing brand does not get overlooked after the initial excitement wears off.

This is a conversation about creativity, television exposure, entrepreneurship, licensing, brand development, and the difficult work required to turn a winning product into a sustainable business.

Kristy Knichel is the president, CEO and majority owner of Knichel Logistics, a family-founded transportation and logistics company.

In this episode, Kristy shares how she developed her leadership skills at a young age, entered the logistics industry and helped grow the company alongside her father and siblings. She discusses the opportunities and difficulties that come with working in a family business, taking over leadership from a parent and earning respect in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Kristy also opens up about scaling the company, building systems, developing leaders and learning from expensive hiring and management decisions. We explore the importance of company culture, financial discipline, employee accountability and creating a business that does not depend entirely on its owner.

The conversation also covers changes within freight and transportation, the future of intermodal shipping, artificial intelligence in logistics and the responsibility Kristy feels to continue her father’s legacy.

This episode offers an honest look at the sacrifices, setbacks and difficult decisions behind building a successful company that is designed to last.

Laney Leigh works at Lizard Lick Towing and Recovery while pursuing her goal of building Rust N Lens Photography.

In this episode, Laney shares how she became interested in photography and began photographing families, graduations, birthdays, special events, and rodeos. She also discusses the challenges of gaining exposure, establishing prices, building confidence, and turning a creative passion into a sustainable business.

This conversation is different from a typical Stay Broke Podcast interview. Randy and Laney work through practical strategies she can begin implementing immediately, including joining local photography groups, finding a mentor, assisting experienced photographers, strengthening her portfolio, creating consistent social media content, and developing relationships with rodeo organizers, horse farms, riding instructors, venues, and western businesses.

They also discuss the possibility of making rodeo photography the specialty that helps Rust N Lens Photography stand out in a crowded industry.

This episode offers an honest look at the early stages of entrepreneurship and what it takes to move from having talent to building a real business.

On this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy sits down with Ryan Furman, CPA and founder of Furman CPA, PLLC.

Ryan recently left the firm where he was a partner to launch his own CPA firm, and he also serves as the CPA for all of Randy’s businesses. The conversation covers tax planning, cash flow, bookkeeping, business structure, financial clarity, and what small business owners often misunderstand about working with a CPA.

Ryan also shares what it was like to step away from a partnership, start his own firm, and build a business around relationships, trust, and helping entrepreneurs make better decisions with their numbers.

Karen Raybon of BD’s Hardwood Floors joins the Stay Broke Podcast for a conversation about family business, craftsmanship, leadership, and building a lasting reputation in the hardwood flooring industry.

We talk about Karen’s journey, the story behind BD’s Hardwood Floors, what it takes to earn trust with customers, and how quality workmanship continues to separate great contractors from the rest. Karen also shares insight into running a family business, leading a team, serving homeowners, and staying committed to doing the job the right way.

This episode is about more than flooring. It’s about entrepreneurship, customer service, reputation, and building a business that lasts.

In her first solo podcast interview, Amy Shirley shares the incredible story behind Lizard Lick Towing and Recovery. She discusses becoming a licensed mortician, building a nationally recognized business with Ronnie Shirley, the impact reality television had on their company, rebuilding after the cameras stopped rolling, finding strength through faith after the heartbreaking loss of their son, and what's next with the Drop That Boom Podcast and the future of the Lizard Lick brand.

Lori Webb joins the Stay Broke Podcast to share her journey through chronic illness, being diagnosed with POTS at a young age, navigating neurological challenges, and the health complications that followed. She discusses how those experiences led her toward holistic healing, biohacking, and ultimately the creation of Health House. We also explore entrepreneurship, Property Specific Realty, resilience, and turning personal struggles into a mission-driven business.

Ruslan Millington is an internationally recognized tattoo artist whose signature style has earned him a worldwide following and clients from across the globe.

In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Ruslan shares his journey from growing up in Ukraine to building a thriving tattoo career in North Carolina. We discuss the challenges of starting over in a new country, finding a unique artistic voice, growing a business through social media, and balancing creativity with entrepreneurship.

Ruslan also shares his thoughts on AI in art, personal branding, and what it takes to create work that stands out in an increasingly competitive world.

This episode is a masterclass in perseverance, innovation, and turning a passion into a successful business.

Zeb Croom joins the Stay Broke Podcast to share his journey from underground metal music to creating Skogarmaor, a unique brand built around Nordic folk-inspired music, storytelling, and handcrafted beard products. We discuss creativity, entrepreneurship, audience building, authenticity, and the challenges of turning passion into a business.