Coffee & Grit

Loud Mouth Studio
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

🎙️ Welcome to Coffee & Grit, where stories are served information with soul! Dive into the wild terrain of entrepreneurship & visionary leadership with Jason Tracey as he nterviews resilient individuals who have conquered the jungle of business and community impact. Each episode is jam packed with powerful insights and inspiration to fuel your own journey. Join us as we sip on tales of triumph, perseverance, and the indomitable human spirit. Subscribe now and let's brew success together, one story at a time! ☕💼 #CoffeeAndGrit #Entrepreneurship #VisionaryLeadership #PersonalDevelopment Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

  1. 5d ago

    At 6 She Said She Would Change The World...And So She Did

    When my friend Sherri reached out looking for someone to work with a group of young people, I initially started thinking about who I could recommend. Then I read the description of what they were looking for and thought, this was written with me in mind. I genuinely believed there were very few people in the world who had the combination of experience, skills, and passion they were looking for. I knew I could make a difference, and I wanted to be part of it. That opportunity introduced me to Life On Purpose Detroit and eventually to my guest on this episode of Coffee & Grit, Heyam (Doris) Hage. Heyam has quite a story. From being a six-year-old girl who wanted to become a teacher and change the world, to building schools, navigating entrepreneurship, and creating an organization focused on helping young people discover their potential, her journey is a great example of how our purpose can show up in ways we never expected. That's a big part of what we get into in this conversation. What does it really mean to live on purpose? How do we recognize opportunities, develop people, and create environments where others can discover what they're capable of? And are we really preparing the next generation for the world they're going into? In this episode, we get into:Doris's journey through education, entrepreneurship, and building Life On Purpose DetroitFinding your purpose and recognizing how it can evolve throughout your lifeWhy education and workforce development need to look different todayThe importance of giving people opportunities to discover their abilitiesLeadership, mentorship, confidence, and developing the whole personThe challenges of building an organization around a mission you believe inWhy making a difference goes far beyond the results we can measureWe also share some of our experiences working with the young people through Life On Purpose Detroit and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. I had the opportunity to witness some incredible growth in those six weeks, and it gave me an even greater appreciation for what Doris and her team are building. And what's really exciting is that the story hasn't stopped there. Since recording this episode, we've continued working together through the first fall program, helping the young people develop their own youth marketing agency. That's a whole other conversation we'll have to come back to as it continues to grow. There's a lot in this conversation for entrepreneurs, leaders, educators, parents, and really anyone who believes in the difference we can make in other people's lives. Because when you start recognizing the potential in people and giving them opportunities to develop it, there's no telling what they might go on to accomplish. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    At 6 She Said She Would Change The World...And So She Did

  2. Nov 2

    Would You Buy What You Are Selling?

    A couple of years ago, Ethan Bodtker and I connected through social media, which led to a phone conversation that felt like we had known each other for years. We immediately connected, went deep into life, business, and everything in between, and then our call got cut off. We stayed connected online, kept following each other's journeys, and every so often we'd say, "We need to make this happen."Well, we finally made it happen, and Ethan joined me in the studio for any episode of Coffee & Grit. Just like that first phone call, we picked right back up like two old friends. What followed was a conversation that went deep into sales, leadership, entrepreneurship, family, and what it really means to build a successful life. Ethan spent three years struggling as a below-average door-to-door salesperson before becoming one of the industry's top performers. Today, he leads a multimillion-dollar sales organization, but his journey has taught him that success is about far more than money, recognition, or the things we accumulate. It's about who we become, the people we develop, and whether the life we're building reflects what matters most to us. In this episode, we get into:How Ethan went from struggling in sales to becoming a top performerThe beliefs and behaviors that separate average from exceptionalWhy great leadership is about developing people, not just driving resultsThe importance of mastering the process instead of obsessing over outcomesBuilding genuine connections and understanding what motivates peopleFinding your rhythm between business, family, and personal fulfillmentWhy success should never become your identityWe also get into some great personal stories, from Ethan wrecking his dream car and realizing how much of his identity he'd attached to it, to the lessons we've both learned about fatherhood, leadership, and being intentional with our time. This is a must-listen conversation for anyone in sales or leadership, entrepreneurs building their businesses, and driven people who want to accomplish big things without losing sight of why they're working so hard in the first place. Because at the end of the day, it's not just about what you're building. It's about who you're becoming along the way and the life you're creating for the people who matter most. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Would You Buy What You Are Selling?

  3. Oct 26

    Someday Is Not a Day

    We spend so much of our lives avoiding conversations about death, grief, and loss. But what if those are the very conversations that can teach us the most about how to live? In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Kevin Mondloch from Borek Jennings Funeral Homes for a conversation that goes far beyond death and funerals. We're talking about love, relationships, human connection, and how some of life's most difficult experiences can help us discover our purpose. Kevin lost his mother when he was just seven years old and his father while he was still in high school. Those experiences shaped his life in ways he wouldn't fully understand until years later, eventually helping him discover a purpose rooted in being there for others when they need it most. In this episode, we talk about: Understanding grief and why everyone experiences it differentlyFinding purpose through life's most difficult experiencesThe power of listening instead of trying to fix everythingWhy preparing for the inevitable is an act of love for our familiesVulnerability, emotional connection, and sharing our storiesFinding gratitude, curiosity, and meaning in everyday lifeKevin shares how Borek Jennings helps families navigate the emotional and practical challenges of losing someone. We also explore why so many of us put off important conversations and decisions, often leaving the people we love to figure things out during some of their most difficult moments. There's so much wisdom in the experiences we never would have chosen. And when we're willing to learn from them, share those lessons, and be there for others, we have an opportunity to turn even our most painful experiences into something that makes a difference. Because sometimes understanding death is what helps us better understand how to live. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Someday Is Not a Day

  4. Oct 19

    Breaking Cycles & Building Legacies

    Three years ago, I connected with JJ Verbovsky after reading a Facebook post he wrote called "The Good, the Bad, the Ugly." That post led to his first appearance on Coffee & Grit, where we talked about his life, the challenges he'd experienced, and the journey that brought him to where he was. Three years later, JJ is back, and this conversation is about what happens next. How do we take the experiences that shaped us, learn from them, and become more intentional about the person we're choosing to be? JJ is preparing to become a father, growing Lakehouse Studios, and continuing to work through the patterns, relationships, and beliefs that have influenced his life. In this episode, we talk about:Breaking generational cycles and building a different futureMental health, self-awareness, and learning to live in the presentRecognizing the leaf people, branch people, and root people in our livesProtecting your creativity and passion while growing a businessSetting boundaries without losing your desire to help othersThe responsibility we have to make a difference in the lives of people around usThroughout our conversation, we explore how growth isn't about erasing your past or pretending the difficult experiences never happened. It's about recognizing what those experiences taught you, deciding what you're going to carry forward, and what you're going to leave behind. Whether it's the family we're raising, the relationships we're building, the work we're passionate about, or a complete stranger who needs someone to listen, we're constantly creating the legacy we leave behind. Breaking cycles isn't just about what we stop doing. It's about what we choose to start doing differently. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Breaking Cycles & Building Legacies

  5. Oct 19

    They Don't Care What You Know Until They Know How Much You Care

    What if the most important thing you could give your family isn't something you can buy, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing they'll be taken care of? In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Blake Williams of the Herndon Family Agency, Farm Bureau Insurance, in Brighton, Michigan, for a conversation about family, loss, legacy, relationships, and what it really means to make a difference in people's lives. Blake is someone I've gotten to know through the Livingston County business community and Difference Maker Bootcamp. I've actually shared his story many times because it's such a powerful example of how our personal experiences can become the very reason we do what we do. After losing his father, Blake experienced firsthand what happens when a family isn't as financially protected as they thought. For a long time, he struggled with sharing that story because he didn't want anyone to think less of his dad. But when he began looking at it from a different perspective, he realized his experience could help other families avoid the same situation. That shift became a big part of his purpose, and it's why one of his statements is so powerful: "So many people bring casserole dishes to a funeral. I want to bring a check." This conversation goes well beyond insurance. Blake is a husband, father, and incredibly active member of the Livingston County business community who has built his career around relationships, trust, and genuinely helping people. We talk about why he chose a career that allows him to be present for his children, how his father's influence continues to shape him, and why taking the transaction out of the interaction can completely change the way we do business. We also get into his experience with Difference Maker Bootcamp and how discovering the power of his own story helped him become more confident, visible, and intentional in the way he connects with people. Because at the end of the day, being a Difference Maker isn't about what you sell. It's about the people you impact, the relationships you build, and what you leave behind. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    They Don't Care What You Know Until They Know How Much You Care

  6. Oct 5

    What About All These People You've Already Met?

    Some people walk into a networking room looking for customers. Steve Zyskowski looks at the room and sees relationships that might still matter years from now. Steve, founder of Caerusnet and now four time Coffee & Grit guest, is back for a conversation that starts with networking but becomes something much bigger. We talk about the relationships that have grown around us over the years and the crazy ways they continue to intersect. A golf outing turns into a friendship and eventually a client. Someone you recognize from social media becomes part of your circle. A person offers to invest in someone they barely know simply because they believe in them. And sometimes the opportunity you've been searching for is already sitting in the room. The problem is we're often so focused on meeting the next person that we forget about all the people we've already met. This conversation is about taking the transaction out of the interaction, investing in people without knowing what you're going to get back, and understanding that you have absolutely no idea which relationship may someday change your business, your community, or your life. Maybe the best evidence of all of it is the relationship Steve and I have built ourselves. This one isn't really about networking. It's about people. Real Stories. Real Data With Soul. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    What About All These People You've Already Met?

  7. Sep 29

    Whatever Story You Tell Yourself, You’re Going to Live It Out

    Quentin Howell was voted “Class Shy” his senior year of high school.Years later, the kid who was afraid to speak up would find himself knocking on strangers’ doors for a living and eventually becoming the top salesman. But there is a hell of a lot of story between those two versions of Quentin. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Quentin opens up about growing up in an abusive home, struggling to believe he was loved, reaching a point as a teenager where he was ready to end his life, and the experience with God that changed the direction of everything. But it didn't magically make life easy.Quentin still had to confront fear. He still had to rebuild after losing nearly everything. He still had to learn how to stop seeing himself as a victim and start taking responsibility for the life he wanted to create. That leads us into a raw conversation about faith, entrepreneurship, marriage, fear, courage, victim mentality and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Because sometimes the thing you're asking God to remove is the exact thing you need to walk through to discover what you're capable of. As Quentin says during our conversation: “Whatever story you tell yourself, you're going to live it out.” This isn't a story about becoming fearless.It's about becoming the person willing to knock on the door anyway! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Whatever Story You Tell Yourself, You’re Going to Live It Out

  8. Sep 21

    The Urgency Reflex: When the Moment Demands More

    At 26 years old, John Collins found himself working inside one of the biggest criminal investigations in the world. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics had just been bombed. John was a young forensic scientist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation when evidence from Centennial Olympic Park began arriving at his lab. One envelope contained a nail removed from the body of Alice Hawthorne, the woman killed in the bombing. Thirty years later, John still remembers the moment he opened it. But this episode isn't just about one of the most infamous investigations in American history. John spent decades in forensic science, fired somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 guns as a firearms examiner, worked for the ATF, eventually led Michigan's entire forensic science system and had a front row seat to what happens when incredibly talented people are placed under extraordinary pressure. He saw people rise to the moment. He also saw ego, hierarchy and turf wars get in the way of the mission, including during the investigation into the Olympic bombing. And that's where this conversation goes somewhere much bigger. We talk about: -Why authority doesn't make you superior -Why you don't get to declare yourself a leader -What happens when organizations start protecting their kingdoms -Why trusting people can cause them to rise beyond -What they thought they were capable of -And why the biggest moments of our lives reveal what we've been preparing for all along. John calls it the urgency reflex: that realization that this moment is bigger than me. Because when the stakes get high, the question isn't: How can this moment serve me? It's: What does this moment require from me? This is one hell of a conversation. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    The Urgency Reflex: When the Moment Demands More
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About

🎙️ Welcome to Coffee & Grit, where stories are served information with soul! Dive into the wild terrain of entrepreneurship & visionary leadership with Jason Tracey as he nterviews resilient individuals who have conquered the jungle of business and community impact. Each episode is jam packed with powerful insights and inspiration to fuel your own journey. Join us as we sip on tales of triumph, perseverance, and the indomitable human spirit. Subscribe now and let's brew success together, one story at a time! ☕💼 #CoffeeAndGrit #Entrepreneurship #VisionaryLeadership #PersonalDevelopment Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

Information

  • Creator
    Loud Mouth Studio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    277
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Speakeasy Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Coffee & Grit