The Go Earn Your Salt Podcast

Shelby Murdock is a professional musician, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, and music educator based in Southeast Idaho. She is the founder of Snake River Strings Co., an award-winning music school with locations in Rexburg, Ammon, Blackfoot, and Pocatello, along with online students nationwide. Snake River Strings Co. was named Idaho’s Best Music School in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Shelby holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Idaho State University and is passionate about making music education fun, creative, and accessible for every kind of learner.

Shelby Murdock started teaching fiddle out of her parents' basement after only a year of playing. She had no idea she was starting a business. Today Snake River Strings has four locations, more than 50 instructors and teaches over 21 instruments. Shelby and I talk about challenging tradition while still honoring it, documenting systems so you can multiply yourself, and redefining what growth really means. You'll also hear how her grandpa's long-lost 1950s honky-tonk bass found its way back into the family.

Website: https://www.snakeriverstringsco.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snakeriverstringsco/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/snakeriverstringsco 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@snakeriverstringsco 

Find out more about Shelby: https://linktr.ee/shelbyraefiddle

Favorite Book:

     Atomic Habits by James Clear

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

Adam Trenk, CEO of Genuine Billy Cook Saddles. When he acquired the company in 2019 after the founder passed, the brand had lost much of the reputation for quality that made it a household name for decades. His mission wasn't simply to operate a saddle company. It was to restore Billy Cook as the benchmark for craftsmanship in the western saddle market and to build products that people use and appreciate while they make the best memories of their lives.

Billy Cook Saddles hit their first profitable year in 2023, and then a tornado completely destroyed their factory in Sulphur, Oklahoma in 2024. They rebuilt from the ground up, added an arena adjacent to the new factory, launched the Sulphur Stampede as a Western heritage festival to help revitalize the town economically, and secured the position as the Official Saddle of the National Finals Rodeo.

This is a story of refusing to take no for an answer. Enjoy!

Website: https://genuinebillycook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genuinebillycook

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genuinebillycook

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GenuineBillyCook

Favorite Books:

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

White Fang by Jack London

Call of the Wild by Jack London

They Red Pony by John Steinbeck

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

Chris Burns aka Chris Bones is the pretty face behind The BJJ Project currently blowing up on the inter-webs. In this episode we discuss Chris' explosive internet growth as the face of this venture, his amazing team, his training, and his constant battle with paparazzi (ok, maybe not the last one). He also speaks about his coach and mentor, Rickson Gracie. Passing on Rickson's deep understanding of Jiu Jitsu is the reason Chris does what he does.

If you are a business owner, or hope to be one, there is a wealth of wisdom to be gathered in this episode. If you are a Jiu Jitsu nerd, well, enjoy!

Website: https://www.thebjjproject.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/chrisbonesjj/  https://www.instagram.com/the.bjjproject/  https://www.instagram.com/zeropointsydney/ 

YouTube: @the.BJJproject

Favorite Books:

The Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Social Blunders by Tim Sandlin

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com ⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale ⁠⁠

This week I interview Brian Portugais, the owner of Rapid Systems Engineering. Today Brian is a successful entrepreneur, but he went through some crap to get there. In this episode we hear Brian tell his story of experiencing the rock bottom,  feeling that everyone was judging him for his bad decisions, and what he did to get past his past. 

Rapid Systems Engineering Website: https://www.rapidsystemsengineering.com/

Favorite Books:

Unintended Consequences by John Ross

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

  ⁠⁠

This week I interview Luis Heredia. Luis was recently awarded a Coral Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. For those of you who are not in that world, a Coral Belt means roughly 36 years as a black belt which in itself takes 10-15 years to attain. In this episode, Luis speaks of his immigration to the U.S.A., how he built his business, the importance of a network, and how to pivot when necessary. You will find Luis to be thoughtful, sincere, and very intelligent. There are many life lessons to be learned in this episode. Enjoy!

Luis can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/chieflimao/

Favorite Books:

Breathe by Rickson Gracie

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale

  ⁠⁠

Dave & Hallie Rainey are a father/daughter duo who train Cross-fit together and are bent on climbing all of the highest peaks in the U.S.A. In this episode we discuss their pursuit of overall fitness, the challenges and dangers of climbing mountains, and some close calls the have had in their adventures. This was an enjoyable episode with great people. Enjoy!

Dave & Hallie can be found on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/dave.rainey/

https://www.instagram.com/hallie.rainey/

Favorite Books:

Hallie- The Bible by God

Dave- The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠⁠⁠

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠ https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale 

⁠⁠

Roger Perez is a gifted Entrepreneur and business owner. Roger can take chaos and turn it into a well oiled machine. In this episode we discuss the challenges of building a new business, how to make it run without us, and the continual adjustments needed to make a business run smoothly. In addition, Roger tells of his military service and how he has made it work for him in his current life. This is a fantastic episode!

Roger can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/rogergrapples/

Website: https://martialartswichitafalls.com/

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com   

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale ⁠⁠

Brandon McCaghren, and his alter ego BMAC, is the visionary and founder behind the Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) that is shaking up the way submission grappling is done. Brandon is the epitome of entrepreneurship especially when it comes to pioneering new ideas and building a team that it will make it succeed. This is a great episode you will not want to miss!

Brandon can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/brandonmc.ninja/ 

Website:

https://bmac.mykajabi.com 

Favorite Book:

1000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠⁠⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale  ⁠⁠ 

After decades in different fields (design and engineering for Jim, research and education for Deanna) we decided to start a new venture together to blend our mutual interests with our desire to contribute to positive change. And if it was fun that wouldn’t hurt, either. Thus, Wavelength Coffee Roasters was born.

In this episode we discuss the challenges of a start-up business. Jim give a candid view of the rollercoaster ride that new entrepreneurs face. Listen in and enjoy the ride!

Jim can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/wavelengthcoffee/ 

Website:

https://www.wavelength-coffee.com/ 

Favorite Book:

The Omnivores' Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Get You Some Salt Electrolytes Drink Mix: ⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com⁠⁠⁠  

SALT Electrolytes Wholesale Application: ⁠⁠⁠

https://saltelectrolytes.com/pages/wholesale  ⁠⁠