Meet The Unshakeables: a podcast for real business owners to discuss real experiences

Imagine coming into work one morning to find that your business has burned to the ground, or that your partner has fired you – twice; Or you have to choose between keeping the engagement ring or paying the salaries. what would you do? Will you risk it all or play it safe?

he meets Which is unshakable– The new podcast from Chase for Business featuring business clients and their make-or-break moments.

Co-hosted by Chase for Business CEO, Ben Walter, and Tanya Nebo, Attorney and Counsel at Nebo Law. Which is unshakable This book takes a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journeys of business owners—from mom-and-pop coffee shops to auto detailing garages to the allergy-friendly snack provider born out of necessity and funded by an engagement ring.

“The common thread in all of these stories is resilience,” Walter said. “We’re sharing the stories of business owners who faced that crisis point and telling the story of how they got through it. These aren’t big Wall Street firms or Silicon Valley companies backed by big venture capitalists. We’re talking about everyday people. They’re the people who sponsor your town’s little league and who You see it in the grocery store.

A new coffee project – roasted and smoked

Take Doug and Jason Barrow, founders of Luna Gourmet Coffee and Tea, for example. One morning at the office, an employee said the building smelled like a campfire. Within minutes, the building was gone, leaving nothing but a large pile of ash, burning coffee beans, and molten steel. Doug and Jason had a decision to make.

“We looked at each other within 24 hours and said, ‘There’s really no choice but to rebuild and move forward,'” Doug Barrow said. “We have to move forward. There’s no going back.’ So we quickly said, ‘We’re going to rebuild, and now we have to understand what that means.’

Which is unshakable It tells the story of how they rebounded, secured new funding, found unexpected allies, and built a dedicated support team that propelled them to greater heights.

Food allergies and the engagement ring

When Denise Woodard discovered that her daughter Vivi had severe food allergies, she knew she had to do something, so she began searching for fun, nutritious food options. But what I found at the grocery store was disappointing at best. She took matters into her own hands, leading her to create her own snacks for Vivi, and laying the foundation for Partake Foods — a Black-owned, woman-operated business that makes allergy-friendly foods. As her snacks started gaining more attention, Denise realized she needed more capital — and fast — if she wanted Partake to succeed.

“I remember reading an article about the founder of Tatcha Beauty, and she talked about making the difficult decision to sell her engagement ring,” Woodard said. “And I called my husband and said, ‘What do you think about this?’ And oddly enough, I think, we were very supportive of it, and I sent him to the diamond district in New York. He came home with several thousand dollars, and that continued to keep the business afloat.” .

Listen to Episode 5 to learn how Denise used this investment and most of her savings to keep her business moving, until she secured long-term financing during a chance encounter in a trade show bathroom.

Losing everything – twice

Alex Vega has always loved cars. It started with a $500 car in high school and led to custom detailing and modification work. Until one day, a business partner revealed his true colors and unceremoniously put Alex back at square one. But this wasn’t the first time this had happened to Alex, and it wouldn’t be the last.

Ben and Tanya talk with Alex about his early struggles, the importance of staying true to your brand, the value of paperwork (especially when working with friends), and how finding a trusted advisor ultimately led to his biggest growth to date.

Growing need for business success stories

In just four months since its launch Which is unshakablethe podcast is ranked among the top 25 podcasts on Apple Podcasts in the Business category and has been downloaded more than 180,000 times.

“If there’s anything I’ve learned from the beginning Which is unshakable“The thing is, there’s no limit to the number of interesting stories you can tell about business owners,” Walter said. “Not only do they form the backbone of our economy, they are also an inspiration to anyone working to address challenges at work and in life.”

New episodes will be released every two weeks until the season finale on April 30. Follow us to get invaluable business insights and inspiring stories by searching for Which is unshakable Wherever you get your podcasts on the iHeartRadio app.

Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia.

The opinions of speakers are their own and may differ from those of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates. The opinions presented in this podcast are those of the speakers.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in North America. 

©2024 JPMorgan Chase & Co.