The Principled Entrepreneur

Caleb & Jodi Moore
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The Principled Entrepreneur is where real entrepreneurs share the principles, values, and grit that carried them through the toughest seasons to their greatest successes. Hosted by husband-and-wife team Caleb and Jodi Moore, we uncover authentic, relatable stories that prove you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. Whether you’re in a body shop, behind a desk, or chasing a dream, each episode will fuel your hope, strengthen your grit, and remind you to keep going — no matter what.

  1. MAR 10

    Banking & Fed Policy: Market Insights from First Security President

    Join Caleb Moore as he sits down with Jared Wood, President of First Security Bank, for an in-depth discussion on the banking industry, Federal Reserve policy, and what the new Fed Chair appointment means for business owners. They explore interest rate projections, commercial lending challenges, and the state of entrepreneurship in America. Jared shares insider insights on what banks really look for when evaluating loans, the struggles facing new construction, and why liquidity matters more than ever. This conversation offers practical wisdom for entrepreneurs, real estate professionals, and anyone trying to navigate today's complex financial landscape. Whether you're seeking a business loan, considering real estate investments, or simply want to understand market forces shaping the economy, this episode delivers actionable insights from two seasoned professionals who've been doing business together for years.

    1 hr

  2. MAR 3

    Fighting Federal Overreach: The Illinois River Watershed Crisis

    When Oklahoma's Attorney General decided to make a name for himself, Arkansas poultry farmers became collateral damage in a legal battle that's been brewing for nearly two decades. Heather Keenan, 2024 Arkansas Realtor of the Year and third-generation poultry farmer, provides an insider's perspective on the devastating Illinois River watershed lawsuit that's threatening to destroy 400 family farms and $6.67 billion in economic activity across northwest Arkansas. This comprehensive deep-dive explores how a 2005 environmental lawsuit against five major poultry integrators—Tyson, Cargill, Peterson Farms, Georges, and Simmons—has evolved into a political weapon under Attorney General Gentner Drummond's aggressive prosecution. Keenan breaks down the complex phosphorus regulations that sparked the original case, detailing how the industry invested millions in conservation efforts, nutrient management plans, and technological advances over the past 20 years to address legitimate environmental concerns. The conversation reveals the shocking December 2024 federal court judgment that prompted Tyson and other integrators to abandon their contracts with generational farmers, leaving families with multi-million-dollar specialized facilities and no income stream. Keenan explains the devastating economics: farms worth $2 million with active contracts become nearly worthless without them, trapping families in impossible debt situations. Beyond the immediate crisis, this case sets a dangerous precedent for private property rights nationwide. The court-appointed "special master" system grants unprecedented government oversight of private land for up to 30 years, essentially creating a new form of regulatory authority that bypasses traditional constitutional protections. Keenan argues this isn't really about environmental protection—it's about judicial overreach and political grandstanding that threatens agricultural freedom across America. Essential listening for anyone concerned about food security, property rights, and the constitutional limits on government power in rural America.

    55 min
  3. From Food Stamps to Congress: Kevin Hern's American Dream Journey

    FEB 16

    From Food Stamps to Congress: Kevin Hern's American Dream Journey

    Congressman Kevin Hern shares his remarkable journey from poverty in rural Arkansas to becoming a successful McDonald's franchisee and U.S. Representative. Growing up on food stamps with no running water, Hern worked his way through engineering school, survived the Challenger disaster derailing his astronaut dreams, and built a McDonald's empire from scratch. He reveals the hard-won principles that drove his success: surrounding yourself with smarter people, embracing failure as a teacher, and never giving up when knocked down. This conversation explores the difference between handouts and hand-ups, why the American Dream is a journey not a destination, and what business leaders don't understand about government. A powerful story of grit, faith, and the opportunities that make America unique.

    1h 13m

  4. FEB 4

    Building a $150M Empire with Other People's Money: Andy McNeil's Private Equity Journey

    Andy McNeil, chairman and former CEO of Denali Water Solutions, shares his remarkable journey from managing a turkey processing plant to building Terra Renewal into a $150 million company and eventually creating what's now nearly a billion-dollar enterprise. In this conversation, McNeil breaks down the mechanics of private equity - how entrepreneurs can leverage other people's money to accelerate growth, the risks involved, and the strategic partnerships that made it all possible. 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgGSpYhN6s 🕐 CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction1:14 - Podcast Intro1:32 - Welcome & Andy's Resume3:17 - Owning a Restaurant4:38 - Atlanta to Arkansas5:50 - College at Auburn & Notre Dame8:00 - First Job at Cargill9:17 - Meeting His Wife10:26 - Terra Renewal Beginnings12:04 - Growing to $150M12:17 - Using Other People's Money13:01 - Oil & Gas Venture13:26 - 2009 Oil Collapse14:38 - How Private Equity Works17:17 - Starting Denali (2014)19:22 - Acquisition Strategy22:45 - Grocery Store Food Waste26:13 - Other Ventures: LRS & Ramco28:04 - Denali CEO & Scale30:08 - Giving Back to Community31:42 - Sludges & Crawford County33:02 - Giving Up Control34:50 - McLarty Capital Partners36:30 - Choosing Partners45:51 - Scaling & Leadership51:24 - Managing Risk & Anxiety53:06 - Lessons from Employee Theft56:53 - A Luck Story1:00:34 - Investment Philosophy1:01:07 - Future: Grid & Energy1:07:45 - Policy & Affordability1:22:32 - Book Recommendations1:28:04 - Advice for Entrepreneurs

    1h 32m
  5. How One Risk Changed Everything: Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis’ Comeback Story

    11/27/2025

    How One Risk Changed Everything: Fred “Boom Boom” Roumbanis’ Comeback Story

    Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis isn't your typical success story. He didn't grow up fishing. He didn't have ions. What he had was a Zebco 33 Classic, a BMX bike, and a dream that started at age 8 on a California reservoir. Twenty years later, Fred has won 4 national tournaments, earned 8 gold medals, and built multiple fishing-focused businesses. But the path there? Far from smooth. - The 45-minute swim that almost ended his career — His boat sank mid-tournament with a teenager aboard. What happened next shows the power of preparation meeting crisis. - Driving to Wisconsin completely broke — Fred was so financially strapped he couldn't afford the next tournament entry fee. One conversation changed everything. - From comfort zone to strength zone — Why Fred says the key isn't getting comfortable, it's knowing what you're great at and leaning into it. - Building Frog Factory and Galilee Fishing — How Fred turned his signature technique into product lines and business partnerships. - 00:00 — Introduction - 05:12 — How Fred got into fishing (spoiler: no fishing background) - 08:00 — The tackle box that started it all - 15:22 — The boat sinking story - 33:46 — Driving to Wisconsin broke: "Everything was dark" - 34:50 — The one sentence that gave him hope - 67:34 — Galilee Fishing: the new venture - 68:07 — The Frog Factory story - 84:30 — Comfort zone vs. strength zone About Fred Roumbanis: - 20-year professional bass fisherman - 4 national tournament wins - 8 gold medals in international competition - Founder: Frog Factory, Galilee Fishing - Known as one of the top power-fishing specialists in the sport with Fred: - Website: fredroumbanis.com - Instagram: @fredroumbanis - Frog Factory: gsmoutdoors.com/brands/boom-boom-frogs - Galilee Fishing: gillfishing.com Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: The Principled Entrepreneur 00:22 - Meet Fred "Boom Boom" Roumbanis 01:46 - How the Moores first met Fred and Julie 03:14 - Why Fred chose Arkansas (could live anywhere) 05:12 - The origin story: no fishing background 06:15 - Dad was a cable car conductor in San Francisco 07:30 - The tackle box that changed everything (age 8) 08:31 - First bass catch: adults applauded on the dock 09:22 - Career day: "I'm going to be a pro fisherman" 15:22 - THE BOAT SINKING: "We're going to have to swim" 16:08 - Swimming 45 minutes to save his co-angler 19:30 - Breaking into the pros 27:00 - First big wins and building momentum 33:46 - ROCK BOTTOM: Driving to Wisconsin completely broke 34:50 - The conversation that changed everything 38:00 - How he came back and won 45:00 - The power of muscle memory and playing to strengths 55:00 - Julie: the partner behind the scenes 01:07:34 - Galilee Fishing: the new venture (faith-based brand) 01:08:07 - Frog Factory: from signature technique to business 01:12:00 - What's next: the "Iron Man of bass fishing" goal 01:24:30 - Comfort zone vs. strength zone 01:25:15 - Closing thoughts

    1h 25m
  6. He Lost His Brother in WWII. What Kept Him Going?

    11/10/2025

    He Lost His Brother in WWII. What Kept Him Going?

    At 18, Floyd Brantley learned his brother was killed on the USS Atlanta through a newspaper headline. The letters he'd mailed came back marked "ship sunk." What followed was a century of service, loss, love, and unshakeable faith that will move you to tears. - How Floyd survived the Great Depression working 3 jobs at age 12 while staying in school - The Christmas Day moment when an American sailor and a Japanese prisoner sang "Amazing Grace" together - Marriage wisdom from 60+ years: why Beth never argued, always encouraged, and never brought up settled issues - Why this 100-year-old WWII veteran says today's America is more divided than anything he's ever seen - The one thing a non-Christian told Floyd this country needs: a national revival - 00:00:00 - Introduction to Floyd Brantley, soon to be 100 years old - 00:01:30 - Growing up in Depression-era Texas - 00:03:30 - Parents' separation and working 3 jobs at age 12 - 00:06:47 - Learning of his brother's death on USS Atlanta - 00:13:41 - Becoming a Navy Corpsman with the First Marine Division - 00:19:48 - Caring for Japanese prisoners of war - 00:21:57 - The Christmas story: singing Amazing Grace with a Japanese prisoner - 00:28:40 - Meeting Beth Pearson at church before shipping out - 00:33:25 - Marriage secrets: communication, forgiveness, encouragement - 00:41:15 - "We're at war against the evil within our own hearts" - 00:46:40 - America's division today vs. WWII and Vietnam - 00:53:00 - Advice to young people: find your purpose and pursue it - 01:05:30 - Closing thoughts and birthday celebration plans Floyd Brantley is a WWII veteran who served as a Navy Corpsman with the First Division Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater, including action on Saipan. Born in 1925 in Texas, he survived the Great Depression, lost his brother in the war, and went on to build a life of service, faith, and family. He is celebrating his 100th birthday with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders among the guests. Caleb and Jody Moore host The Principled Entrepreneur, where they dive into real stories of grit, growth, failures, and victories - exploring what it really takes to build your business and life on purpose and principle. [Add social links, website, podcast platforms] Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction - Meeting 100-year-old WWII veteran Floyd Brantley 01:30 - Growing Up in Depression-Era Texas 03:30 - Parents Separate - Working 3 Jobs at Age 12 06:47 - "Ship Sunk" - Learning His Brother Died on USS Atlanta 09:11 - The Pain of Returned Letters 13:41 - Becoming a Navy Corpsman with the Marines 14:45 - "Why Me?" - Counseling Wounded Soldiers 19:48 - American Compassion for Japanese Prisoners 21:57 - Christmas Day: Singing Amazing Grace with the Enemy 26:50 - Christian Faith Crossing Enemy Lines 28:40 - Meeting Beth Pearson at Church 33:25 - 60 Years of Marriage: "Lord, Honey, We Need to Talk" 35:35 - "You Can Learn" - Encouraging Others 39:47 - Raising a Family in the 50s and 60s 41:15 - "We're At War Against Evil Within Our Hearts" 46:40 - America's Division - Worse Than Vietnam? 48:04 - What We've Lost: Honor, Responsibility, Patriotism 53:00 - Find Your Purpose and Pursue It 01:05:30 - Closing: 100th Birthday Celebration Plans

    1h 7m
  7. From "Bubba Linux" to FEMA Director: A Serial Entrepreneur's Journey

    11/04/2025

    From "Bubba Linux" to FEMA Director: A Serial Entrepreneur's Journey

    What if the traits that made school difficult could become your greatest business advantage? John Weathersby, a self-described "serial entrepreneur" with dyslexia and ADHD, has built tech companies, advised the military on open source software, led the National Graphene Association, and now serves as a Federal Disaster Recovery Officer at FEMA. His secret? He's a "conduit of people" who s dots others can't see. - Why entrepreneurship might be a "mental disorder" (in the best way) and how to embrace your unconventional thinking - How to build teams by finding the "shiny spot" in everyone and leveraging their unique talents - The art of bringing powerful people together - from Intel and IBM executives to Navy CTOs - Why nonprofits can be incredibly profitable and how to think about them differently - How entrepreneurial thinking transformed FEMA's disaster response operations - The power of learning more from failures than successes - and how to rebound every time - 00:00 — Introduction to John Weathersby and his unique path - 03:14 — How dyslexia and ADHD shaped his entrepreneurial mindset - 04:14 — "You can find a shiny spot on just about anybody" - 12:00 — Getting Intel, Red Hat, IBM, and Oracle in the same room - 12:48 — The "Bubba Linux" story: Mississippi meets Silicon Valley - 21:23 — How entrepreneurial efficiency thinking works in government - 22:30 — The backstory: From retirement to FEMA - 26:20 — Becoming FEMA's philanthropy advisor - 27:01 — Yellowstone floods deployment experience - 44:14 — True leadership: "A football team is not made of quarterbacks" - 1:04:45 — Learning more from failures than successes - 1:29:11 — The failed pitch that taught him about listening - 1:30:33 — "I'm going to get up one more time than you knock me down" John Weathersby is a Federal Disaster Recovery Officer at FEMA with over 5 years of service, responding to major disasters including the Yellowstone floods. Before FEMA, he was a serial entrepreneur with experience in open source technology, where he earned the nickname "Bubba Linux" while working with the U.S. Navy at Stennis Space Center. He served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Graphene Association and has extensive experience building trade associations and ing corporate leaders with government opportunities. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. About the Podcast: The Principled Entrepreneur with Caleb and Jodie Moore dives into real stories of grit, growth, failures, and victories. Every conversation explores what it really takes to build your business and your life on purpose and principle. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:23 - Welcome to The Principled Entrepreneur 01:24 - Meet John Weathersby, FEMA Director & Serial Entrepreneur 03:14 - "Entrepreneurship is a Mental Disorder" - Embracing Dyslexia 04:14 - Finding the Shiny Spot in Everyone 04:50 - Building Teams: "If It's Just You, Single Point of Failure" 12:00 - Bringing Intel, IBM, Red Hat & Oracle to Washington 12:48 - The "Bubba Linux" Story at Navy Stennis Space Center 21:23 - Entrepreneurial Efficiency in Government 22:30 - How FEMA Called: The Retirement That Wasn't 26:20 - Becoming FEMA's Philanthropy Advisor 27:01 - Yellowstone Floods: First Major Deployment 44:14 - Leadership Lesson: Football Teams Aren't All Quarterbacks 45:02 - Self-Assessment: "Are We Doing This Right?" 01:04:45 - Learning More From Failures Than Successes 01:05:11 - When Things Fall Apart: Don't Beat Yourself Up 01:29:11 - The Failed Pitch Story: Know Your Worth 01:30:03 - "What Do We Learn From That?" 01:30:33 - John Wayne Philosophy: Getting Up One More Time 01:31:07 - Closing & Arkansas vs Ole Miss Football Banter

    1h 31m
  8. 99% of Farms Won't Do This. Here's Why They Did.

    10/16/2025

    99% of Farms Won't Do This. Here's Why They Did.

    While Arkansas farm bankruptcies in Q1 2025 exceeded all of 2024 combined, the Ralston Family Farm is thriving. How? They rejected the conventional playbook and joined the 1% of farms that sell directly to consumers. - Why 99% of farms are trapped in the co-op commodity system (and how to escape) - The 5-tier regenerative farming certification that Whole Foods demanded - How a $400K combine became a $800K combine - and what that means for farm survival - The "farm-to-fork" model that landed Blue Apron and 820+ retail stores - Why entrepreneurial risk-taking is a family trait that gets passed down - How an 8-acre solar array transformed their operation economics s: - Robin Ralston - Matriarch of Ralston Family Farms, 10th generation in agriculture, oversees business operations - Ashley Enis - Robin's daughter, quality assurance and certification specialist, balances teaching with farm operations About Ralston Family Farms: Based in Arkansas, Ralston Family Farms is one of the few certified regenerative rice operations in the United States. They operate a complete farm-to-fork model with their own mill, selling directly to consumers, retailers (820+ stores), and food service partners like Whole Foods, Blue Apron, Ben Keith, and Cisco. - Website: RalstonFamilyFarms.com - Available at Whole Foods, Amazon, and 820+ retail locations nationwide Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction - Meet the Ralston Family 01:51 - Origin Story: 10 Generations of Agriculture 02:46 - Starting the Farm in the 1990s 07:13 - Blue Apron Partnership (2016) and BRC Certification 08:22 - Ashley's Role: Never Driven a Tractor 08:32 - The Entrepreneurial Mindset Passed Down 13:44 - Kids Watching Parents Struggle 14:07 - Corporate Competition for Farmland 15:18 - Farm Bankruptcy Crisis in Arkansas 16:14 - "Your Profit is in Your Inputs" 20:45 - Farm-to-Fork: The 1% Business Model 21:19 - The Whole Foods Challenge: Get Certified 22:10 - Regenified Certification and Gabe Brown 23:08 - 5 Tiers of Regenerative Farming 28:43 - Sales Channels: Online, Retail, Food Service 29:46 - 820+ Stores Nationwide 30:00 - Employee Count and Operations 34:29 - Learning Curve of Regenerative Farming 35:07 - 8-Acre Solar Array and Sustainability 01:00:00 - Giving Back: Arkansas Food Bank Donations 01:03:35 - Faith, Risk, and Not Living in Fear 01:05:01 - The 1% Way of Doing Business

    1h 6m
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About

The Principled Entrepreneur is where real entrepreneurs share the principles, values, and grit that carried them through the toughest seasons to their greatest successes. Hosted by husband-and-wife team Caleb and Jodi Moore, we uncover authentic, relatable stories that prove you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. Whether you’re in a body shop, behind a desk, or chasing a dream, each episode will fuel your hope, strengthen your grit, and remind you to keep going — no matter what.

Information

  • Creator
    Caleb & Jodi Moore
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Caleb & Jodi Moore
  • Show Website
    The Principled Entrepreneur