Business Under Fire

Tommy Bonner
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Whether you are an aspiring business owner or seasoned professional, tune in to discover secrets to entrepreneurial triumphs. In this First Season, Tommy Bonner will meet with 52 Business Owners of all walks of life, each ready to share their business tips and tricks as well as their trials and victories.

  1. Jul 9

    Business Under Fire | From Jail To An Artist S2 E13

    On this episode of Business Under Fire, we sit down with Jacob Carroll, founder of Till Death Digital Media, a wedding photography and videography business based in Seguin, Texas — just 11 months into the game and already turning heads. Jacob's path here wasn't typical. Before picking up a camera, he spent years working as a correctional officer, starting as an 18-year-old control room operator and working his way up through general population, lockdown, psych units, and a prerelease parole unit. He opens up about growing up around the live music security industry, watching his mom battle addiction (and later become a substance abuse counselor herself), failing out of the police academy by two points, and how years inside a jail shaped — and jaded — his view of people. We talk about the leap from law enforcement to full-time creative entrepreneur, starting Till Death Digital Media the same day his daughter was born, landing his first paying client through a wedding planner connection, teaching himself videography through YouTube, and the biggest lessons from his first year in business — including why raising his prices actually helped him close more sales. We also get into his FAA Part 107 drone license, the DJI import ban, and how he's building his reputation through local think tanks, craft shows, and word of mouth in Seguin. If you're thinking about starting a creative business, working for yourself, or just want a raw conversation about life, jail, and entrepreneurship — this one's for you. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro: Meet Jacob Carroll & Till Death Digital Media 00:47 – Why "Till Death" Digital Media? 01:35 – 11 months in business (started the day his daughter was born) 02:26 – Background: growing up around live music security 03:07 – From Jimmy John's to the Sheriff's Office 03:35 – First job: control room operator in a county jail 04:39 – Talking to inmates through the intercom 05:00 – His mom's struggle with addiction and eventual recovery 07:45 – Promotion to correctional officer & the police academy 08:01 – Failing the police academy by two points 09:03 – Life inside the jail: the daily grind 11:19 – Working the prerelease parole unit 11:49 – Does the justice system actually rehabilitate people? 13:24 – Losing his creative spark working in corrections 13:59 – "Your reality is not my reality" 16:09 – Staying jaded vs. staying open 19:32 – Advice for anyone considering a career in corrections 19:56 – Starting a pressure washing business on the side 21:26 – What scares people about starting a business 22:05 – Getting the paperwork done & landing the first client 23:14 – Learning videography from YouTube 25:13 – What sets Jacob apart from other photographers/videographers 28:04 – His artistic background and how it shows in his work 31:07 – Becoming an FAA-licensed drone pilot 32:21 – What it takes to get a Part 107 license 33:01 – The DJI drone ban and its impact on the industry 38:04 – Biggest business lesson: closing sales 38:47 – Why raising his prices actually increased sales 40:07 – Marketing: Facebook ads, Instagram, and craft shows 41:33 – Becoming "the person of interest" in your local market 42:05 – Getting his work into local shops (Guadalupe Trading Company) 43:15 – The value of joining a local entrepreneur think tank 47:06 – Balancing family life with running a business 48:29 – The real difference between working for someone and working for yourself 50:00 – Hardest lessons from year one 50:49 – Jacob's goal: opening his own photography studio 51:52 – How to find and contact Jacob 53:26 – Outro CONNECT WITH JACOB CARROLL / TILL DEATH DIGITAL MEDIA 📍 Based in Seguin, TX — available to travel anywhere FOLLOW BUSINESS UNDER FIRE 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes 👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it 💬 Drop a comment — what part of Jacob's story hit home for you?

  2. Jun 11

    Business Under Fire S02 E12 | I Tripled My Income In 30 Days - Britany Rodriguez

    In this episode, Tommy sits down with Brittany, founder of Cloud Ten Events, to discuss her journey from teaching and owning a nutrition shop to building a thriving event business with seven mobile event carts and a growing corporate events division. Brittany shares how a simple cotton candy cart turned into a full-scale business, the lessons she learned from failure, the cease-and-desist that forced her to rebrand, and why saying "yes" to opportunities helped her build a company that's growing across Texas.

  3. Apr 23

    BUF S2 E11 | Alan VS Rooster: The Power of Alter Ego Branding

    In this episode, we sit down with TikTok creator and entrepreneur Rooster Vance, a guy who’s built a powerful personal brand by leaning into authenticity, alter ego, and real-world business experience. We go deep on what it really takes to turn content into cash, why most people fail at personal branding, and how today’s shifting economy is exposing weak business models. Rooster doesn’t hold back — from calling out fake “views = success” culture to explaining why your offer matters more than your content, this is a no-BS conversation for creators, business owners, and anyone trying to build something real. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & who is Rooster Vance? 02:10 – The “Rooster” alter ego vs real life identity 05:30 – Why people are afraid to post content 06:35 – Stop caring what people think 12:40 – Why views don’t actually make you money 13:35 – The importance of having a real offer 18:50 – Turning attention into actual business 21:10 – “Everyone is broke” — what’s happening in the economy 22:20 – Real estate, land, and market shifts 26:45 – Adapting your business in a downturn 30:10 – Employee mindset vs entrepreneur mindset 34:00 – Building a brand that actually converts 38:20 – Final advice for creators and business owners 🔑 Key Takeaways Views don’t matter if you can’t monetize Your offer is more important than your content Personal branding requires risk and authenticity The economy is shifting — and weak businesses will struggle Attention is only valuable if you know how to convert it

  4. Apr 2

    Business Under Fire S2, E10 | The 5 Things I Learned In Business

    What separates the entrepreneurs who make it from the ones who burn out? Tommy Bonner has 26 years and 240 employees worth of answers. In this solo episode of Business Under Fire, Tommy gets real about what it actually takes to build and sustain a business — from mowing lawns out of an Acura Integra to owning restaurants, a nursery, and flying private jets. No guest, no filter — just hard-earned lessons and straight talk. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00:19 – Intro & surprise call from Blake Burt (first-ever podcast guest) 00:03:11 – Why Tommy recorded a solo episode today 00:04:07 – What separates the men from the boys: doing it anyway 00:05:00 – Tommy's backstory: 26 years of entrepreneurship, starting at 19 00:06:08 – How it all started: a black Acura Integra, a push mower, and $500/week 00:08:17 – Lesson #1: The Buck Stops Here — you are the fixer, bulldozer & firefighter 00:14:50 – Lesson #2: The Smartest Person Might Not Be the Owner 00:18:07 – Lesson #3: The Key to Success Is People — the Beer House hiring story 00:27:31 – Lesson #4: Speed Wins — Perfection Kills Momentum 00:30:25 – Lesson #5: It's Going to Be Harder and Take Longer Than You Think 00:31:17 – The baseball analogy: aim for singles and doubles, home runs will come 00:34:19 – What Tommy wants from the podcast & his businesses going forward 00:38:36 – The hardest three years of his life — and how they came out the other side 00:40:26 – What's next: buying businesses, construction projects & flying 00:42:17 – Closing thoughts & restaurant recommendations in Port Aransas 📍 Mentioned in This Episode: Beer House – Port Aransas, TX Seafood & Spaghetti Works – Port Aransas, TX Burnt Bean Co. (referenced) 📬 Connect with Tommy Bonner: ✉️ Tommy@BusinessUnderFire.com If you enjoyed this episode, text or email Tommy directly — he reads them. New episodes dropping regularly on Business Under Fire.

  5. Mar 20

    Business Under Fire S02 E09 - The Hard Truth About Entrepreneurship

    In this episode of Business Under Fire, we sit down with Rob from First Fidelity Wealth Management for a raw, unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build, grow, and sustain a business over the long haul. From marketing failures and scaling struggles to leadership challenges and personal discipline, this episode dives deep into the realities most entrepreneurs don’t talk about. If you’re a business owner (or want to be one), this is packed with hard-earned lessons you won’t want to miss.

  6. Feb 26

    Business Under Fire S02 E07 | Dine With Kent!

    What happens when a 40-year highway construction worker picks up his phone, walks into an African café, and accidentally goes viral? You get Dine with Kent — one of the most authentic food platforms on the internet. Host Tommy sits down with Ken Burns, the Port Aransas-based food influencer behind the massively popular TikTok and Instagram page "Dine with Kent," to talk about his accidental rise to fame, his philosophy of "for me or not for me," and why real people are hungry for real reactions. From small business advocacy to upcoming appearances on the Tamron Hall Show and a feature in the New York Times, Ken's story is proof that passion + authenticity can take you anywhere — even if you started by leaning your phone against a glass of water.

  7. Feb 19

    Business Under Fire S02 E05 | The Sign Guy Who Does It Right

    This episode, we're joined by Jereme Ragsdale, owner of Sign Design in Lubbock, Texas. Jeremy started his company in 2002 after being let go on a Friday — and was knocking on doors by Monday. Over 23 years later, he's built one of West Texas's most trusted full-service sign and design companies, with a team that's been with him for decades. From vehicle wraps and building signs to becoming the mini ad agency for small businesses all across the region, Jeremy's story is one of grit, craft, and small-town pride done right.

  8. Feb 5

    One Year of Owning a Dry Cleaning Business | Business Under Fire S02 E04

    What does the first year of business ownership ACTUALLY look like? In this episode, we sit down with Ian Acosta, owner of Tip Top Cleaners in New Braunfels, Texas, for a brutally honest conversation about his first year running the oldest dry cleaning business in town (established 1942). Ian shares the highs, lows, and hard lessons learned from transitioning from employee to owner. From earning respect as a young entrepreneur to mastering the numbers game, this is essential viewing for anyone considering buying or starting their own business. If you thought business ownership meant instant wealth and freedom... think again. This is the reality check every entrepreneur needs to hear.

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About

Whether you are an aspiring business owner or seasoned professional, tune in to discover secrets to entrepreneurial triumphs. In this First Season, Tommy Bonner will meet with 52 Business Owners of all walks of life, each ready to share their business tips and tricks as well as their trials and victories.

Information

  • Creator
    Tommy Bonner
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Under Fire
  • Show Website
    Business Under Fire