What started as a simple idea — “what if we combined a milk jug with a blender bottle?” — turned into a $24 million business that shook up the entire drinkware industry.

In this episode of UtahPreneur, we sit down with Hayden Wadsworth, co-founder of HydroJug, to unpack the real story behind one of Utah’s fastest-growing e-commerce brands. From late nights leak-testing 3,000 jugs in his dad’s shop to capturing 7% of Amazon’s drinkware market alongside Stanley and Yeti, Hayden’s journey is a masterclass in grit, obsession, and staying lean.

We dive into how HydroJug bootstrapped its way to eight figures with zero outside investors, why Hayden drove a Honda Civic long after hitting $12 million in revenue, and how his immigrant family’s work ethic shaped every part of the company’s DNA. He shares the highs and lows of scaling fast, the paranoia that comes with product obsession, and the branding philosophy that made HydroJug a household name.

If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at how a Utah side hustle turned into a national brand — this is it.

👉 Compilation of UtahPreneur Business Ideas & Hacks: https://utahpreneur.co/ideas

🎙 Hosted by: Keaton Walker
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Utah calls itself the “Startup Capital of the World.” Bold claim, right? But according to the data, founders here are 70% more likely to build a unicorn than anywhere else in the country.

In this episode of UtahPreneur, I sit down with Tim Culie, head of the Startup State Initiative under Governor Cox, to unpack why Utah is punching so far above its weight in tech and entrepreneurship. From a billion-dollar government “fund of funds” to a culture of relentless sales talent, Tim explains the secret sauce that has made Utah the next big startup hub.

We dive into the history—from WordPerfect to Divvy—and explore the role of community, capital, and culture in building billion-dollar businesses. Tim also shares what resources are available right now for Utah founders: $500 seed funding, microloans, subsidized office space, tax credits, and even $2,500 grants to expand internationally.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or already scaling, this episode gives you the insider’s roadmap to starting and growing a business in Utah—and maybe even building the next unicorn.

👉 Compilation of UtahPreneur Business Ideas & Hacks: https://utahpreneur.co/ideas

🎙 Hosted by: Keaton Walker
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💻 Remember those wild “PC Laptops” commercials from the 2000s? The guy yelling “We love you!” on your TV at 1 a.m.? Turns out, he wasn’t just a gimmick—he was building a business empire behind the scenes.

In this episode of UtahPreneur, we sit down with Dan Young, the mastermind behind PC Laptops, Xidax, and multiple other ventures that quietly made him millions. From selling sunglasses at swap meets to running a crypto hedge fund, Dan’s path to success is as unconventional as it is inspiring.

We talk about the power of personal branding, what it really takes to scale a tech business, and how Dan bet big on himself—even when it meant living behind his first store. He opens up about surviving burnouts, finding clarity through chaos, and why authenticity is still his secret weapon.

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to “The Laptop Man” — or how to turn hustle and heart into generational wealth — this episode is a must-listen.

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✨ Find PC Laptops at: https://www.PCLaptops.com/

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🪧 You’ve seen her face—on highways, side streets, and city centers across Utah. But who is Julia Reagan? And why were 300+ billboards dedicated to her?

In this episode of UtahPreneur, we sit down with Bill Reagan, the man behind Reagan Outdoor Advertising, to uncover the emotional story behind the Julia Reagan billboards that captured the state’s attention. We talk about how a grieving husband used his billion-dollar billboard company to honor his late wife, and how love, legacy, and entrepreneurship intersect in one of Utah’s most powerful business stories.

We also explore the rise of Reagan Outdoor Advertising from humble beginnings to becoming one of the largest family-run billboard empires in the western United States. Bill shares insights on scaling a business, building lasting customer relationships, and why storytelling still matters in advertising.

Whether you’ve driven past one of those iconic billboards or are just curious about the man and the mission behind them, this episode is unforgettable.

🤝Join the UtahPreneur community page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/utahpreneurcommunity

➡️ Find Reagan Outdoor Advertising at: https://www.reaganoutdoor.com/

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✨ Mark and Sally Dietlein turned a small South Salt Lake stage into one of the most advanced and beloved theatres in the country—Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, Utah. With over 600,000 guests a year, a $82 million state-of-the-art venue, and stages that move, fly, and even flood, this nonprofit theatre is rewriting the rules of live performance.

In this episode of UtahPreneur, we dive into the story behind Hale Centre Theatre’s incredible growth, the family legacy behind it, and the entrepreneurial grit it took to build something Utah can truly be proud of. Whether you're a fan of the performing arts, an entrepreneur, or just love a good origin story—this one’s for you.

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🎭 Find Hale Centre Theatre at: https://hct.org/

🥪 Find Plates and Palates at: https://www.platesandpalates.com/

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🚪 Jeremy Barker lost $20 million before the age of 22. He went bankrupt twice, slept in his truck, and worked as a firefighter earning $800 paychecks—while pouring everything he had into building Murphy Door, a Utah-based hidden door and custom storage company now valued at over $60 million.

Today, Murphy Door is transforming homes across America—selling to celebrities, high-end homeowners, and DIYers looking to add style, function, and a little mystery to their space. Their secret-door solutions blend craftsmanship, utility, and innovation, all built right here in Utah.
In this episode of UtahPreneur, Jeremy opens up about:
Losing $20M and going bankrupt twice—before 25

🔨 The early days of Murphy Door and what drove him to build it
📲 Why outbound sales now drive more than 50% of revenue
⚖️ Balancing business, sacrifice, and family through it all
💪 Hard-won lessons on resilience, grit, and relentless vision

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, founder, builder, or side hustler—Jeremy’s story is unforgettable. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this conversation might just change the way you see what’s possible.

🎧 Tune in now to hear how Jeremy Barker went from broke to building a nationally recognized home innovation brand—and why Murphy Door is just getting started.

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🚪 Find Murphy Door at: https://murphydoor.com/

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⭐ Vanessa Quigley never planned to be a tech founder. But when her youngest son cried over a photo book from his preschool teacher, she realized how badly families need better ways to preserve their memories. That moment sparked Chatbooks—a startup that began with a simple idea: “Print my Instagram.”

In this episode, Vanessa shares the full backstory of how she and her husband built one of Utah’s most beloved consumer brands—without any big launch, fancy funding, or deep tech background. From scrappy early hires (like “Subway Josh”) to a $500K viral ad that put them on the map, we dive into what makes Chatbooks tick.

We also talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, building a mission-driven workplace, and why she believes Chatbooks is just getting started—especially with new launches like the Quilt app.

If you're building a business, raising a family, or trying to create meaning through your work—this episode is for you.

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📒 Find Chatbooks at: https://chatbooks.com/

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🎙️ Shauna Sloan is the Utah mom who turned her love of thrifting into a national resale empire. In this episode of UtahPreneur, we dive into the origin story of Kid to Kid, one of the most recognizable children's resale franchises in the country. Shauna shares how she and her husband launched the business in 1992 with no outside capital—just grit, a clear vision, and a stroller full of flyers. From rollerblading through neighborhoods to opening over 100 stores, her story is packed with insights for anyone building a business from the ground up.

We talk about what it really takes to grow a franchise, why 90% of Kid to Kid franchise owners are women, and how Shauna bought back underperforming stores and turned them around. You'll also hear how her daughter Chelsea and son Scott took the resale model and launched Uptown Cheapskate, now a thriving brand in its own right. Whether you're into franchising, resale retail, or just love a good founder story, this episode delivers the goods.

If you’ve ever considered buying a business, starting your own, or turning clutter into cash—this one’s for you.

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👕 Find Kid to Kid: https://kidtokid.com/

📽️ Find Utah Podcast Studio at: https://utahpodcaststudio.com/

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🎙️ Heather Griffith Barber helped turn Queen of Wraps into one of Utah’s most recognized print and vehicle wrap companies. What started with her brothers—and a cape and crown—grew into a full-service branding powerhouse with 30 employees and clients across the country. But at the height of it all, Heather made the bold move to step away.

In this episode, we dive into why she left, how she’s building again, and what she’s doing now to help other founders—especially women—prepare their businesses for exit. Heather is on a mission to create 20 female millionaires, and with five companies under her belt (and a new book that just launched this week), she’s well on her way.

We talk about legacy, leverage, family business dynamics, loss leaders, and what it really looks like to walk away from a brand you built from scratch. This one’s packed with practical takeaways and mindset shifts—don’t miss it.

🤝 Join the UtahPreneur community page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1B5LVFu4RU/

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✨ Connect with Heather Barber on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathergriffithbarber/

📚Purchase her book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYVN81NH

🎙 Hosted by: Keaton Walker
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🎙 Jake Baadsgaard built Disruptive Advertising into a $25M powerhouse by helping businesses stop wasting money on bad ads. But behind the scenes, Jake was burned out, disconnected from his family, and hiding behind the success of his company. In this episode, he shares the raw, honest story of what happened after he hit $10M in revenue—and realized he didn’t like the person he’d become.

We talk about how Jake rebuilt his life through awareness, honesty, and responsibility, and how that transformation gave birth to Disruptive University. He’s no longer just helping businesses grow—he’s helping people grow. From his earliest freelance gigs to letting go of 70% of his clients to stay aligned with his values, Jake’s story is a masterclass in building a business that actually means something.

If you're chasing growth personal or professional growth, but wondering what it's all for—this one’s for you.

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✨ Find Disruptive Advertising at: https://disruptiveadvertising.com/

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