Happy Thanksgiving Y’all! Much to the guys’ amazement, the Sippi Podcast project has been around long enough to have its very first holiday episode! As a result, this episode is themed around Thanksgiving and gratitude. They discuss their personal thankfulness, including family, faith, and the podcast’s success.The conversation then shifts to ideas on how small business owners can express gratitude to their customers, along with the financial benefits of customer retention over acquisition.  Practical advice is offered on how entrepreneurs can express customer appreciation through both words and actions, emphasizing the power of genuine thankfulness and its positive impact on business growth.Check out their words about gratitude on the platform of your choice.Speaking of gratitude, special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode and special thanks to Franklyn Zhao from Pixabay for use of his song “Autumn Road” in this special Thanksgiving edition of the Sippi Podcast!

It’s not often we get to interview a creative; and this guy meets every aspect of the word!  Our guest this week is Mississippi artist and entrepreneur, Michael Mitchell.Born in Vicenza, Italy, and raised in Mississippi, Michael shares his fascinating journey to becoming a multimedia artist and business owner. Some of the many topics we cover includes how he navigates his spiritual faith in what can be a pretty secular industry, his near-death experience while on tour, his creative process, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in similar creative industries. Michael also introduces his company, Light Productions, a multimedia firm that specializes in creating original content and supporting other artists, as well as his upcoming book series, The Epic of Jonah.And if that wasn’t enough, Michael graciously gave us permission to include one of his latest songs, “All Of Me”, (written by Light Productions and ft. M-Status, coproduced by M-Status and Light) at the end of this episode. Be sure to check it out after the interview!A sincere thanks to Michael for getting behind the microphone with us! Check out our chat with him on the platform of your choice.Also, special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

It’s hard to believe that the Sippi Podcast has been around for about eight months (at the time of this writing), and we have already covered all kinds of entrepreneurial topics such as marketing, framing, accounting, goal setting, social media, time management, etc. BUT – what good does it do us if we don’t apply it?  Sooooo, in classic “eat your own cooking” fashion, Chris puts Caleb on the spot to find out if he is actually doing any of this stuff in his own business – and shockingly learns about a new coffee shop mascot in the process…Listen to the sheer bewilderment and confusion in Chris' voice on the platform of your choice!Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

This week we learn about the business of construction from our special guest, Matt Pace, Founder and President of Codaray Construction. Matt shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting at his family’s roofing business, to partnering with a friend on his first venture, and then partnering with a professional investment firm to create his own company, Codaray Construction.Matt talks about the origin of his company’s unique name, the importance of building a strong team, and his beliefs about the impact of prioritizing a positive company culture. The interview also delves into Matt’s thoughts on finding and partnering with the right kind of investment firm that gives you a healthy push for growth while still supporting entrepreneurial autonomy to run your company how you see best.A sincere thanks to Matt Pace for getting behind the microphone with us! Check out our chat with him on the platform of your choice.Also, special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

Caleb and Chris lost their DODGE RAM minds and decided to talk about cursing and virtue signaling - but in the most Mayberry, Aww Shucks, Bless Their Hearts kind of way possible. So, before you clutch your pearls and skip this episode, give it a listen on the platform of your choice (along with a little open-minded consideration of the points they poorly attempt to make), and let ‘em know what you think! Special thanks to Indicium for all the extra editing in this episode!

You routinely hear the story of the college kids that find their passion in tech and relentlessly work through the night to make their idea a reality – but have you ever actually heard from one of these folks directly?  This week’s guest, Jack Maloney, is that guy. He has Co-Founded connectU, a marketplace platform that connects social media influencers with business owners in order to streamline brand deals.Check out our chat with Jack on the platform of your choice and let us know what you think!Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

In this week’s episode the guys share their emotional thoughts about how the Sippi Podcast got its very first review – and it was from "other podcasters" at Google! What a wide range of emotions it was…Check out this emotionally charged chat on the platform of your choice and let us know what you think!Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

In this week’s episode of the Sippi Podcast, Caleb and Chris talk about the challenges of putting out a new episode every week and Caleb shares his experience with putting himself and his company on TikTok.Check out their chat on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Well hey everybody! This week we talk about "Framing" - but not the construction type. In the context of Behavioral Economics, framing refers to the different ways information is presented in order to influence consumer behavior, even when the underlying facts remain the same. The core of framing involves highlighting certain aspects of information while downplaying others. For example:Positive frame: "The treatment has a 70% success rate"Negative frame: "The treatment has a 30% failure rate"In this week's episode the guys talk about the four most popular types of framing and how you can use framing in your business. Check out the chat on the platform of your choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

What does Organ Repair, Labyrinths, Tombstone Washing, and Pyromusicals all have in common? Absolutely nothing – until you meet this week’s guest, Jason Glydewell.If you need a refreshing episode to remind you why you got into self-employment in the first place, this is an episode you can’t afford to miss!  Jason tells us point-blank, “Dude, I am having a great time on this planet.”, and when you hear his story you’ll understand why.Sincere thanks to Jason for getting behind the mic with us and sharing his wild ride. Be sure to check it out on your platform of choice!Also, a sincere thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Now that we know our community enjoys learning about mental health and the psychology behind consumer behavior, we decided to nerd out a little bit and talk about a popular economic concept called "Taps and Sinks" (also known as "Faucets and Sinks") – which has nothing to do with the stuff you buy at Home Depot.  The type of Taps & Sinks we are talking about in this episode refers to mechanisms for adding or removing resources from an economic system in order to get your customers to behave a specific way.But don’t worry, we left all the complex math and Game Theory at home. This is a discussion on Taps & Sinks that is approachable and explained in a way that you can apply in your own business as soon as tomorrow.  Sound too good to be true?  Listen for yourself!Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Back by kinda, sorta, maybe a little popular demand – Season Three, y’all!  I mean, is there really more that needs to be typed here?   Don’t believe us?  Listen for yourself!Sincere thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode and willing to do another season with us!

Have you ever wondered if any of the high flying, fast paced, tech entrepreneur stories you see in the movies are grounded in reality?  This week’s guest, Joe Mordica, talks about what it’s actually like to build a tech startup, sell it, help build another tech company into the second largest cryptocurrency mining farm in the United States (with an electric bill of about half a million dollars PER MONTH), and then start yet another tech company that is actively working to disrupt the telecommunications industry as we know it.Yet despite a lot of parallels to the regular tech startup movies, Joe intimately shares what he discovered actually matters on the other side of the successful tech startup rainbow (spoiler alert:  It’s not the private jets and bodyguards that he had at his disposal).Want to hear what Joe thinks matters most for successful tech entrepreneurs?  Then check out our chat on your platform of choice!Sincere thanks to Joe for sharing a really exciting story and his firsthand tech startup experiences! Also, a sincere thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Long time listeners know all about Caleb (check out Episode Six if you really want to get all up in Caleb’s grits), but this time we get to hear about the Brown Family entrepreneurial journey from the perspective of his better half – Kristy Brown (aka “Little Wifey”, haha).Just like the Amay’s in Episode 14, Kristy insightfully brings “the rest of the story” to the table on what it has been like for their family through the highs and lows associated with starting and running your own business with your spouse. For those of you who are currently in (or contemplating starting) business with your significant other – you definitely don’t want to miss this episode!A very special thanks to Kristy for taking the time to get behind the microphone with us! Check out our chat on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Surf YouTube, news websites, or virtually any social media platform, and you will be bombarded with advertisements on how to “make money with Amazon”.  However, how many people do you know, on a first name basis, that actually did it – and at scale?  Today, we are going to introduce you to someone we know personally that meets the description:  Anthony Herrington.In this wild interview, Anthony starts off by telling us how he started his career in banking, at which point he found himself in the middle of a bank heist with a gun in his face.  Did this event influence him to leave the banking world and start making real money on Amazon?  You’ll have to listen to find out.  =)A very special thanks to Anthony for taking the time to get behind the microphone with us!Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

This week’s episode is the lighter side (Part Two) of our Entrepreneur Mental Health Series, where Caleb and Chris talk about some of the positive mental health experiences folks can encounter on their self-employment journey. If you haven’t done so already, we highly recommend listening to Part One of this series (Episode 0018) first.Check out our chat on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

“If you’d look at my phone right now, there’s probably 10 messages that I just sent today that says, “Hey let’s grab coffee or lunch in the next two weeks.”All too often entrepreneurs bet the future of their success solely on their product without considering the people they are selling to or buying from. Our guest this week, entrepreneur and investor Jared Carlson, turns that notion on its head and stresses that the single most important factor in your business is the network of relationships that support it.A very special thanks to Jared for taking the time to get behind the microphone with us! Listen to Jared talk about the importance of relationships in your business on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

There was a popular study published in 2015 by Dr. Michael A. Freeman, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Freeman collaborated with researchers from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. This research focused on the mental health of entrepreneurs and found that 72% of entrepreneurs reported experiencing mental health concerns.72%... That’s a lot… So, let’s talk about it.In the first of this two-part series, Caleb and Chris talk about mental health through the lens of entrepreneurship, starting off with some of the most common mental health complications small business owners are likely to experience. That’s the bad news - so we are going to get it out of the way first! Welcome to Part One!Check out our chat on your platform of choice.

On the Sippi Podcast we often discuss the art of business, but for the very first time we were blessed with an opportunity to talk bluntly about the business of art:  "I'll settle for the honest struggle with it.", said our special guest, entrepreneur, and artist, Megan Sauls of The Shop at Lemon Tree.In this episode, you will hear firsthand experience about the perpetual tension between the potentially conflicting tugs of perfection, expression, and pragmatism in your product or service – but how “the honest struggle of it” can actually be the most beautiful part of the entire process.A very special thanks to Megan for taking the time to get behind the microphone with us! Check out our chat with her on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

Revenue, Earnings, EBITDA, Bottom Line, Equity, P&L, Balance Sheet – what the heck does ANY of this stuff actually mean and why should we care? In this week’s episode, Caleb and Chris talk about “The language of business” (otherwise referred to as “accounting”), through the lens of entrepreneurship.But wait! Before you decide to skip this episode due to perceived boredom (or fear), the guys take the time to explain a handful or two of words that you MUST understand before you get in front of your future tax accountant, banker, or investor.Check out their latest chat on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

This week’s episode focuses on the human tendency to think more wisely about other people's problems than our own. This psychological phenomenon is so common and widespread that it’s been given the name “Solomon's Paradox”.  In case you’re wondering, the name is based upon the ancient King Solomon, who was renowned for his wisdom in advising others but made numerous poor decisions in his personal life.In this episode, Caleb and Chris explore how Solomon's Paradox can directly affect the entrepreneur and his/her company, because hey, entrepreneurs are people too!Check out our chat about Solomon's Paradox on your platform of choice.Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

“We love to make people cry.”  And they mean it!Entrepreneurial duo Roberto and Christy Amay, owners of Amay Jewelry Designs, take us to school on the importance of attaching emotion to your product.But the education didn’t stop there!  Over roughly an hour listeners will learn about:Navigating a partnership (and conflict resolution) when your business partner and your life partner are the same person.The importance of having an unbiased tiebreaker for your team.How to handle setbacks that are beyond your control (they spent their company’s one-year anniversary shut down due to COVID-19).Making jewelry out of exotic materials like human breastmilk or human ash (be sure to hear Caleb and Chris respond to this part).   =)A very special thanks to Roberto and Christy for taking the time to get behind the microphone with us!Also, special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

“Hustle till your haters ask if you’re hiring.” This is just one example of the many entertaining words of wisdom our latest guest, Mississippi Memaw, dropped on the microphone. In roughly one hour of conversation Memaw educated us on what it’s like to have the first video you ever upload to Tiktok go viral with over a million views and then prove to the world it wasn’t a fluke by creating additional viral content, with her latest internet hit (Pickled Dr. Pepper) having over five million views by itself at the time of this writing.In this episode listeners will hear what it’s really like to have your social media content go viral (both the good and the bad), along with tips that some small business owners should consider when they create or use social media for their own companies.Speaking of Pickled Dr. Pepper – we tried it on air.  And well, you’ll just have to hear our first sip reactions for yourself.   =)Special thanks to Mississippi Memaw for taking the time to record this episode!  Check out our chat with her on your platform of choice.Also, special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

*sings* “Don’t call it a comeback, we’ve been here for y- months.”   LL Cool J would be proud - and maybe you will be too, because we are gonna do it again y’all! Caleb and Chris have put their big boy pants on and have committed to a Season Two of the Sippi Podcast!  *queue the Eye of the Tiger music*Can I just take a moment to mention how much it pains me when I think our younger listeners may not catch either of the music references above? Sigh…  Anyway, let’s not be depressed at our ever-increasing age but focus on the good stuff instead – Season Two!In this week’s episode Caleb & Chris talk about what all was accomplished in Season One, along with some of the things listeners can expect in Season Two.  So take a listen, and rejoice in the celebration if you approve or send Caleb hate mail if you disapprove to [email protected], don’t do the last part, Caleb already told you he’s sensitive.  =)Special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

In this week’s episode of Share Your Story, Mississippi Veteran and Entrepreneur, Ric McCluskey, gets behind the microphone and tells us what it’s like to go from working a minimum wage job to building and selling a company within four years.Ric talks about how growing your faith and your business at the same time doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive; and how leaning into the great unknown can actually make the whole self-employment experience worth it by itself – instead of something we should be afraid of.Special thanks to Ric McCluskey of i-Flow Technologies for taking the time to drive down to Columbia and sharing his story with us!Also, a special thanks to Indicium LLC for editing this episode!

So, this is one of those "just for fun" episodes that has nothing to do with entrepreneurship whatsoever. However, we do recommend this episode if you want to be entertained and/or confused - because we definitely were (and still are).I need to also take a moment to say: If any of our listeners happen to have attended the 2014 NASCAR race in Talladega OR is a practicing psychiatrist/psychologist - we would LOVE to hear from you.  You'll see why when you listen to the episode.  Enjoy!Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for editing this episode.

Hey Everybody,  we just released a quick episode to let you know that we got nominated for Festival South’s Best of the Pine Belt! We now need to ask for your help in nominating us too so that we can make it to the next (voting) round!Please please please hit the nominate button here:  https://hubcityspokes.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-the-Pine-Belt-2024/gallery?group=485004You will find us under the “Podcast” category!SINCERE THANKS IN ADVANCE! 

Time Management, Taking the Leap, Being Avant-garde, Raising Money, $11.42 Moments, Ending a Venture: Virtually every self-employment subject we have discussed so far on this podcast has been personally experienced in some way by Sippi Podcast’s very first guest, Stan White.Stan was kind enough to hang out with us for over an hour and share several adventures (and misadventures) he has experienced in over 30 years of entrepreneurship, including some valuable lessons learned along the way. If you want to hear what rural entrepreneurship is like in several parts of Mississippi, including New Albany, Corinth, Tupelo, and Biloxi, check out this episode because Stan has either opened or operated businesses across four different industries in these towns.Special thanks to Stan White of WDG Holdings for getting on the mic and telling us what it's really like to do business in the Dirty South!Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for editing this episode.

This episode was created because of you, our listening community!  A listener sent in a follow up question to Episode Four, asking what should you do if you want to break up with Dumb Money or Trusting Money.  In this week's episode the guys offer some advice on how to exit these types of relationships without blowing everything up in the process.  Also, Caleb manages to make Chris blush when asking about his worst high school breakup...Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for producing this episode!

In this week’s episode Caleb and Chris share their thoughts about the 2023 movie “Dumb Money”. Caleb reflects on being the type of guy portrayed in this movie, as he was using the Robinhood app daily during the very time period covered by the film. Chris attempts to explain the market mechanics behind the scandal associated with Dumb Money and Caleb tells listeners about his new experimental drink he is thinking about rolling out.Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for producing this episode!

In this second half of our “Who is Caleb?” episode, we transition from Caleb the pro baseball player to Caleb the veteran, Caleb the PhD student, and Caleb the entrepreneur!  Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for producing this episode!

In this week’s episode of the Sippi Podcast the guys recall what they did on their Easter breaks, Chris talks about getting in two car wrecks within roughly 48 hours, and then they get into the main topic of the episode:  Finding out who this Caleb guy really is.Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for producing this episode!

In today’s episode, Caleb shares what he went through when he opened the doors to his current business with $11.42 in his checking account, and how other events such as this shaped the eventual creation of the Sippi Podcast.  Be sure to check this episode out if you ever wondered what we are doing on this podcast and why we are doing it.Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for editing this episode.

The guys continue their conversation about raising money for your startup idea or company. They dig deeper into the differences between Angel Investors, Venture Capital (VC) Investors, and Commercial Banks.  Chris takes a little time to explain what is meant by “Smart Money, Dumb Money, & Trusting Money”, along with the hidden costs associated with receiving each of them. Chris also provides advice throughout the episode on things to do and consider before you reach out to Angel Investors or VCs. The guys talk about how much money you should ask for when you approach a potential investor. Chris explains the difference between “pre-seed” and “seed” funding. Thinking about being an investor in startups?  The guys also talk about that too. The guys wrap up the episode talking about the main characteristics of a successful elevator pitch.Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for editing this episode!

Caleb introduces the Scarlett O'Hara Frappe as this episode’s mystery drink, but Chris screws it up by drinking it with straight black coffee at the same time. Caleb mentions he had $11.42 in his bank account when he opened his coffee shop and talks about an unpleasant conversation with his tax accountants.  The guys then get into the main topic of the episode:  Raising Money for your Startup!Special thanks to R.A.M. Arts & Media for editing this episode!

In the second half of Episode Three, Caleb shares this week’s mystery drink with Chris, and the guys continue their conversation about the risks and benefits associated with being avant-garde in your business. Chris provides some tactical advice on how to be avant-garde without “betting the farm” in the process.Special thanks to R.A.M Arts & Media for editing this episode of the Sippi Podcast!

In today's episode of the Sippi Podcast, Caleb and Chris talk about being new, unusual or experimental (avant-garde) in your business without scaring your existing customers off. The guys also chat about the 2023 biographical comedy-drama film "BlackBerry", and Caleb shares first hand experience about entrepreneurship never being as good as it seems or as bad as it seems.  Special thanks to R.A.M Arts & Media for editing this episode of the Sippi Podcast!  

In the second half of Episode Two, Caleb and Chris have a little fun sharing their thoughts on the recent films Barbie and Saltburn. Chris discusses the “Paradox of the Pivot” and explains what a “Zombie Company” is. The guys talk about the implications for both family and friends when you decide you want to take the leap to self-employment and offer some advice on how to navigate that.If your side-hustle begins to get serious, Chris offers some things to consider before leaving your existing W2 job. Also included in this episode is some level-setting on the expectations of entrepreneurship with the old adage, “Things are never as good as they seem, they are never as bad as they seem.”  Special thanks to R.A.M Arts & Media for editing this episode of the Sippi Podcast!

In this first of a two-part episode, Caleb and Chris discuss some important things to consider when deciding if you want to give entrepreneurship a try (aka “taking the leap”). The guys also touch on some things that the leap to self-employment and the leap to spiritual faith have in common. Chris nerds out a little on Behavioral Economics and Caleb shares his perspective on local competition.Special thanks to R.A.M Arts & Media for editing this episode of the Sippi Podcast!