The Unscripted Climb

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Neil Galas breaks down one of the most common (and expensive) mistakes young adults make: committing to college without first exploring real-world work and career options. 

Neil argues that jumping straight into college often delays clarity instead of creating it. Instead, he encourages young people to spend time working — especially in challenging, physical labor jobs — to better understand their strengths, limits, work ethic, and long-term goals. 

This conversation is a reality check for students, parents, and anyone questioning whether the traditional “college first” path actually makes sense for everyone. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• Why most young adults don’t actually know what they want yet — and why that’s okay
 • How real-world experience can provide faster career clarity than classrooms
 • The hidden value of physical labor jobs in building discipline and perspective
 • Why slowing down before college can prevent regret and wasted money
 • How hard work can quickly teach you what you don’t want long-term 

If you’re a student feeling pressure to decide your future, a parent trying to guide without pushing, or someone who took the long way around and learned the hard way — this episode will hit home. 

Sound bite worth hearing twice: 

“Go find the hardest physical labor job you can.” 

Subscribe for more honest conversations about careers, entrepreneurship, and figuring life out without pretending anyone has it all solved. 

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

Mike Smith joins The Unscripted Climb to share how he went from sleeping under bridges and building skateparks in malls… to becoming a nationally recognized youth speaker, nonprofit founder, and full-time dad.

In this episode, Mike talks about his three “lives” — launching youth centers, becoming a top-tier speaker, and chasing his wildest dream of being an international adventure guide. He also breaks down his “compensation model” from Stanford, what AI is doing to creativity, and why Gen Z is struggling to build real memories.

Whether you're raising capital, raising kids, or raising your standards — this conversation will hit you in the soul.

—

Follow the show and leave a review if you’re climbing your own mountain.

📍 Topics:
 entrepreneurship, youth development, nonprofit leadership, impact investing, public speaking, AI and creativity, parenting, social innovation, lifestyle design, life after burnout, community building, adventure

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

Shermin Lakha isn’t your average attorney—and she doesn’t run average businesses.

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, she shares how she grew Level Up Legal and Tiger Tiger Creative Agency without a single paid ad. Instead, she relied on creativity, community, and content.

From building an all-female law firm focused on IP and startup law, to helping brands and creators close deals through shoppable content, Shamim’s journey is packed with tactical takeaways for entrepreneurs ready to pivot, lead, and grow.

If you’re tired of playing small—this one’s for you.

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, Bonnie Blackman opens up about what happens after the world knocks you down—and how you build something even better. After losing her teaching job, Bonnie transitioned from educator to entrepreneur, creating a publishing business grounded in empathy, passion, and purpose.

She talks candidly about what it means to fail, how to find your voice again, and why joy isn’t optional—it’s your job to create it.

Takeaways:

Failure is part of the path—use it.

Relationships matter more than résumés.

Passion-led businesses don’t burn you out.

Own your happy. It’s not someone else’s job.

If you're looking for a reason to keep going, this is it.

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Daine Patton, the founder of Bats to Rats, to talk about his wild ride from pest control rookie to wildlife management CEO—and the 100-pound transformation that changed his life.

Daine opens up about becoming a dad at 19, navigating marriage and business, and how COVID ironically became one of his biggest growth opportunities. From hiring challenges to personal health battles, this episode is full of straight-up entrepreneurial truth and transformation.

Whether you're scaling a service business, managing chaos at home, or trying to shed the weight (literal or metaphorical), this one hits hard.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• How Daine went from pest control to owning a wildlife removal business
• Why COVID-19 helped his business explode
• The leadership challenges of hiring (and firing) friends
• How he lost over 100 lbs and kept it off
• The connection between discipline in fitness and business growth
• Why starting small in personal development works
• What it takes to lead a team when everything is on the line

📌 Chapters (YouTube):

00:00 – Navigating Personal and Professional Life
08:28 – The Journey of Entrepreneurship
17:22 – Building a Team and Overcoming Challenges
26:45 – Health, Wellness, and Family Priorities
27:53 – The Turning Point: A Father's Reflection
32:20 – Commitment to Change: The Journey Begins
35:46 – Transforming Body and Mind: The Power of Weight Training
42:09 – Beyond Fitness: Personal Development and Business Growth
49:26 – Sharing the Journey: Leadership and Community Impact

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Greg Harris, the founder and CEO of Quantum Workplace, to unpack the 23-year journey from startup struggles to building one of the most respected names in employee engagement.

Greg gets real about the early days of selling raw data, the emotional decision to pivot the business model, and how resilience kept him going through the chaos. He also shares his thoughts on how AI is reshaping the future of work—and why he's optimistic about it.

If you're navigating your own entrepreneurial curveballs or wondering how to stay ahead of innovation without losing your soul, this one’s for you.

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• How Quantum Workplace evolved from a data product into a full-scale software company
• The real story behind walking away from the original business model
• What it took to educate the market on employee engagement
• Why Greg sees AI as a superpower, not a threat
• The biggest misconceptions about leadership and scaling
• Why comparing yourself to competitors is a distraction
• How to build a profitable business without losing your curiosity

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Chris Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Nate Karaway, founder of Premier Brick, to talk about how a career built in corporate turned into a mission to build with literal grit.

Nate shares his unfiltered entrepreneurial journey—from sports to the brick industry, from desk job to design consultancy. He breaks down how Premier Brick is more than just a materials supplier—it's a purpose-driven business focused on education, community impact, and passionate leadership.

Expect stories about:

• Jumping from the comfort of corporate life into the fire of entrepreneurship
• Using brick to rebuild communities after disaster
• Building a team that actually wants to be there
• And yes, what it means to “eat the frog” (figuratively speaking—we hope)

This episode is packed with tactical takeaways and real talk for anyone scaling a business, chasing a vision, or just trying to survive the next client meeting.

📌 YouTube Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Unscripted Climb Podcast
 01:56 - Nate Karaway's Entrepreneurial Journey
 08:05 - The Birth of Premier Brick
 11:56 - Navigating the Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship
 18:55 - The Impact of Brick on Lives and Communities
 24:05 - Building a Passionate Team
 30:04 - Scaling a Design Consultancy
 35:48 - Overcoming Challenges in Business Growth
 39:59 - Vision for the Future of Premier Brick

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

Susan Pilato didn’t just build a furniture brand — she’s reshaping what sustainability and leadership look like in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder and CEO of Mantra to unpack her journey from interior designer to furniture entrepreneur. Fresh off Neocon (the Super Bowl of the furniture world), Susan shares what it really takes to build a sustainable brand, lead with purpose, and stand tall as a woman in business.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• Why Neocon is a game-changer for the design world
• How Susan navigated entrepreneurship as a creative woman in a capital-driven world
• The misunderstood truth about real sustainability in furniture
• How to build a brand that lasts (without selling your soul)
• The importance of allowing creativity to breathe inside your team
• What the future of Mantra looks like—and why she’s not slowing down

If you’re into smart business strategy, sustainability with bite, and underdog stories with sharp edges… this one’s for you.

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

Steven Vitale doesn’t just run a surf boutique and an apparel brand—he’s building two movements. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder of Cape Maid and Lifting Culture Apparel to unpack the reality of running multiple businesses, staying creative, and managing debt while still finding joy in the grind.

Whether you're scaling a retail brand or just trying to pay off startup credit cards, this episode will hit home.

Steven dives into:

• Building an online presence that actually converts
• Cross-promoting between two brands
• How DJing and music fuel his business creativity
• Market research and choosing the right brick-and-mortar location
• The not-so-glamorous side of entrepreneurship (spoiler: debt)
• Email marketing and customer loyalty strategies
• Why resilience and finding joy matter more than perfection

This isn’t just a highlight reel. It's the messy, motivating, brutally honest story of what it really takes to build something meaningful.

🧠 Keywords:

entrepreneurship, Steven Vitale, Cape Maid, Lifting Culture Apparel, small business, creativity in business, apparel brand, surf boutique, debt management, brick-and-mortar success, e-commerce strategy, market research, cross promotion, customer engagement, online presence, business growth, startup struggle, retail branding, email marketing, resilience, The Unscripted Climb podcast

⏱️ Chapters (YouTube):

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here 

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when your husband's hobby turns into a full-blown business empire? Meet Jess Loseke, CEO of Midwest Barrel Company, who took a leap into the bourbon barrel industry and never looked back.

In this episode, Jess gets real about the gritty side of entrepreneurship—from navigating cash flow chaos in an inventory-heavy business to working shoulder-to-shoulder with her spouse (and staying married through it). We talk leadership, scaling, e-commerce, and why relocating to Kentucky was the bold move that changed everything.

If you’re building a business from scratch, wrestling with growth, or just curious about how to turn a niche idea into a powerhouse brand, this episode is your shot of straight bourbon wisdom—no chaser.

🔥 Key Topics:

• Entrepreneurship without a safety net
• Cash flow management in inventory-based businesses
• E-commerce and email marketing strategies
• Leadership dynamics with your spouse
• Risk-taking and relocating for growth
• Building culture while scaling
• Expanding into international markets
• Sustainability and future plans

🔑 SEO Keywords:
Midwest Barrel Company, bourbon industry, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, business scaling, leadership, cash flow challenges, partnerships, business growth, Kentucky bourbon barrels, sustainability in business, working with your spouse

💬 Sound Bites:

• “Working with your spouse is not for everyone.”
• “I want to quit sometimes, but I don’t.”
• “It was a calculated risk—but the right one.”

📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Podcasting Adventures and Networking
00:44 – The Journey of Midwest Barrel Company
08:23 – Overcoming Personal Challenges
17:20 – Navigating Business Decisions and Partnerships
22:43 – Cash Flow Management and Economic Challenges
26:55 – Transitioning to a New Facility
29:14 – Navigating Leadership Dynamics
34:36 – Scaling Strategies and Market Expansion
40:41 – Overcoming Entrepreneurial Challenges
46:13 – Taking Risks and Future Vision

💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people.
 👉 Perch-Merch.com
👉 OhHelloAgency.co

🔗 Connect with Us:

• Chris Beecham on LinkedIn
• Natalie Micale on LinkedIn

Check out our podcast website here