Coffee & Grit

Loud Mouth Studio
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated 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. 4d ago

    Deeply Rooted: Building A Business On Something Bigger

    Some businesses are built around a product or service. Others are built around a belief about how people should be treated. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Matt Pastor, founder of Deeply Rooted Mechanical, for a conversation about faith, leadership, construction culture, fatherhood, adversity, and building a company on something deeper than revenue. Matt grew up in the trades and saw both the pride that comes with working with your hands and the damage that can happen when toughness turns into cruelty, control, or indifference. His own life was shaped by losing his father to suicide at 12, the men who stepped in afterward, and the experiences that challenged and ultimately deepened his faith. Years later, those roots became part of the foundation for Deeply Rooted Mechanical. In this episode, we talk about: • Building the kind of workplace you wish more people had experienced • Why core values have to apply to the owner too • Servant leadership, accountability, and clarity • Taking the next small step before you can see the entire path • How adversity and mentorship shape the way we lead • Building people while you build the business One of the strongest ideas in this conversation is that leadership is not just about treating people well. Your people still need expectations, accountability, and a clear understanding of what winning looks like. Matt is learning that clarity is kindness, and that servant leadership does not mean avoiding hard conversations or lowering the standard. Deeply Rooted installs commercial HVAC systems, but Matt understands that the work is bigger than the mechanical systems going into a building. It is about the people doing the work, the culture they experience, the leaders they become, and the version of themselves they take home to their families at the end of the day. This episode is a reminder that the roots matter, because eventually whatever you build above the surface is going to depend on what you chose to build underneath it first. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Deeply Rooted: Building A Business On Something Bigger

  2. Aug 24

    Now What? When Life Takes Away Who You Used To Be

    Most of us have an idea of who we think we are and what we believe our life is supposed to look like. But what happens when life takes that person away? In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Adam Powell for an incredibly powerful conversation about being diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, losing the ability to walk, grieving the person he used to be, and ultimately making the decision to find out what was still possible. Before MS, Adam was an athlete, a workaholic, and an on road supervisor for UPS. Within a relatively short period of time, he lost his career, his independence, his ability to drive, and eventually the use of his legs. During COVID, he found himself living almost entirely inside a bedroom at his parents’ house and confronting a question much bigger than whether he would ever walk again. Who was he if he could no longer be the person he had always known? Adam had to grieve that person. He had to accept that his old life was gone without accepting that his life was over. And then he had to ask: Now what? Today, Adam walks. He drives. He works out. He rides a bike. He speaks publicly and shares his story with others. Not because MS disappeared. Not because positive thinking magically changed his circumstances. But because Adam decided to keep discovering what he could do instead of allowing a diagnosis to make that decision for him. One of the most powerful moments in our conversation comes near the end when Adam talks about how easily his story could have gone in another direction. Instead, he says: “I made the choice to live.” This episode is about MS, but it is also so much bigger than MS. Eventually, life gives all of us a moment when the person we were, the plan we had, or the future we expected is no longer available to us. We may not get to choose what happened. But we still have to answer the question that comes next. Now what? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Now What? When Life Takes Away Who You Used To Be

  3. Aug 17

    From Passion To Purpose: Growing Something That Matters

    Purpose does not always begin with a perfectly defined plan. Sometimes it grows from simply following what matters to you and being willing to see where it leads. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with April Dertian, founder of the Dertian Ranch, for a conversation about purpose, entrepreneurship, community, and building something meaningful from the things you genuinely care about. What started with April's love of gardening continued to evolve through education, volunteering, community involvement, fundraising, and eventually the creation of the Dertian Ranch. Along the way, she has learned that building something that makes a difference requires more than passion. It requires asking for help, finding the right people, treating what you are building like a real business, and becoming comfortable sharing the impact you are creating. In this episode, we talk about: • Turning passion into purpose • Starting before you have everything figured out • Learning through failure and unexpected challenges • Finding the right people and partnerships • Building a business around community and impact • Why sharing your story is not bragging • Treating your passion like a business • Redefining what success looks like • Using your experiences to serve others One of the strongest themes throughout this conversation is that purpose often reveals itself through action. April did not begin with a master plan for what the Dertian Ranch would become. She kept following opportunities to teach, serve, grow, connect people, and make a difference. This episode is a reminder that you do not always have to know exactly where something is going before you begin. Sometimes you start with what matters to you, keep taking the next step, and allow the purpose to reveal itself along the way. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    From Passion To Purpose: Growing Something That Matters

  4. Aug 10

    Building A Vision That Inspires Your People

    Most business owners have a vision for where they want their company to go. The bigger question is whether their team can actually see it. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with returning guest Trisha Turner of Turner Design Group for a full-circle conversation about leadership, accountability, employee development, visibility, and what it really takes to turn a skilled service business into a company that can grow beyond the owner. Since her last time on the show, Trisha has continued building Turner Design Group while also going through Difference Maker Bootcamp. One of the biggest shifts came when she finally completed and shared her Vivid Vision with the team.  After hearing where the company was going, one of her longtime employees simply asked, “So when are we going to start that?” That moment says a lot. The vision was no longer just living in Trisha’s head. Her people could finally see where they were going and how they could help get there. In this episode, we talk about: • Creating a vision your team can actually see • Why accountability reveals who wants to grow • Helping employees understand the numbers and the why • Developing people instead of simply managing them • Learning the business skills your craft never taught you • Why introverts still have to become visible • Asking the winners and being willing to learn • Building a company that eventually grows beyond the owner One of the strongest lessons in this conversation is that accountability does not always create problems. Sometimes it exposes what was already there. As Turner Design added clearer expectations, reviews, goals, career paths, and accountability, some people chose to leave. Instead of automatically assuming the system was wrong, Trisha began realizing that growth changes who fits inside the next version of the company. This episode is a reminder that building a real company is about much more than getting more customers. It is about creating clarity around where you are going, giving people a reason to care, helping them grow along the way, and building something they can eventually take ownership in too. Because your people cannot help build a vision they cannot see. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Building A Vision That Inspires Your People

  5. Aug 4

    If It's Not A Yes Than It Is A No

    Most people don't struggle because they say yes too often. They struggle because they're afraid to say no. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with returning guest Dr. Ronda Vaughn for an honest conversation about boundaries, growth, leadership, and what it really takes to build a life that reflects your values instead of everyone else's expectations. Over the past two years, Ronda has expanded her business, grown her impact, embraced coaching, built a stronger team, and become even more intentional about the life she's creating. Along the way, she discovered one simple principle that has transformed the way she makes decisions: If it's not a yes, then it's a no. That mindset isn't about becoming selfish. It's about protecting your time, creating space for what matters most, and having the courage to make decisions that align with the future you're trying to build. Throughout our conversation, we also dive into the uncomfortable moments that every entrepreneur eventually faces. Difficult conversations with employees. Letting go of clients who are no longer the right fit. Stepping outside your comfort zone. Creating content even when you're afraid of being judged. Taking action before you feel completely ready. In this episode, we talk about: • Why boundaries create freedom • Having the conversations you've been avoiding • Building confidence through action • Growing your influence and community • The value of coaching and accountability • Becoming comfortable with uncomfortable growth One of my favorite moments from this conversation is realizing that confidence rarely comes first. Confidence is usually the result of doing the thing you were afraid to do. The entrepreneurs, leaders, and Difference Makers we admire aren't fearless. They've simply learned that growth happens on the other side of uncomfortable conversations, difficult decisions, and consistent action. If you've been carrying too much, saying yes to everyone, or waiting until you feel "ready," this conversation is the reminder you may need. Sometimes the most powerful word you can say isn't yes. It's no. And making room for the life you were actually meant to build. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    If It's Not A Yes Than It Is A No

  6. Jul 27

    Turning Shame Into A Solution

    Most people would rather avoid talking about bathroom problems. Daniel Johnson built an entire business by refusing to ignore them. In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Daniel, founder of Many Bidets, for a raw, funny, and unexpectedly meaningful conversation about turning a painful personal experience into a company built around dignity, education, and service. Daniel spent years dealing with IBS, hemorrhoids, excessive wiping, pain, bleeding, and the anxiety of using anyone else’s bathroom. When he finally discovered a bidet, it dramatically improved his quality of life. He quickly realized that millions of other people were quietly living with the same pain, embarrassment, mobility challenges, and loss of independence. That personal problem became the foundation for Many Bidets, but the business grew because Daniel kept listening. He listened when customers needed better education. He listened when older adults struggled with complicated controls. He listened when people wanted to experience a product before buying it. He also listened to his employees and gave them room to grow into work that matched their strengths.  In this episode, we talk about: • Turning personal pain into purpose • Starting before everything is perfect • Building courage through hard seasons • Customer service as the real product • Restoring dignity and independence • Hiring for passion and ownership • Trusting your team as the business grows • Why scarcity leads to bad decisions One of the strongest ideas in this conversation is Daniel’s description of Many Bidets as a customer service company that sells bidets. That mindset shapes everything. The goal is not to push the most expensive product or force a sale. It is to understand the customer, remove the shame surrounding the problem, and help them find the solution that genuinely improves their life. This episode is a reminder that the problems people hide still deserve thoughtful solutions. Sometimes the experience you would rather forget becomes the exact experience that allows you to understand, serve, and make a difference for someone else. And sometimes courage is not something you begin with. It is something you acquire by surviving the hard seasons you thought might break you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Turning Shame Into A Solution

  7. Jul 20

    Surrender to Change: Finding Gain in Loss

    What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next chapter isn't change... it's the version of yourself you're afraid to leave behind? In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with leadership coach and EOS Implementer Dave Feidner for a powerful conversation about identity, leadership, and what it really takes to grow. Together, they unpack one of the biggest misconceptions about change: people don't resist change. They resist loss. Whether it's letting go of a title, leaving the home where you raised your family, stepping out of a leadership role, or rewriting the story you've been telling yourself for years, every meaningful next chapter requires you to release something before you can fully embrace what's next. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and his own personal journey, Dave shares practical wisdom that will challenge the way you think about growth, trust, vulnerability, and the stories that shape your life. In this episode you'll discover: • Why people resist loss, not change • How identity can quietly limit your growth • The leadership power of surrender • The Change Equation that drives lasting transformation • Why vulnerability creates stronger teams • How your words shape your future • Why your unique ability is your greatest contribution If you're leading a business, navigating a major life transition, or feeling called into a new season, this conversation is a reminder that growth isn't about becoming someone else. It's about having the courage to let go of who you've been so you can become who you're meant to be. Because sometimes the greatest obstacle to your future is your loyalty to your past. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Surrender to Change: Finding Gain in Loss

  8. Jul 15

    What Are You Actually Building?

    What if success isn't about building the biggest business... but building the right one? In this episode of Coffee & Grit, Jason sits down with Kyle Hunt of Remodelers on the Rise for a conversation that goes far beyond remodeling. Together, they unpack one of the most important questions every entrepreneur eventually faces: What are you actually building? From defining your own version of success to creating content that truly serves your ideal client, Kyle shares nearly two decades of lessons helping business owners simplify growth by getting crystal clear on who they serve, the problems they solve, and the life they're trying to create. Whether you're a contractor, coach, consultant, or business owner, this conversation is a reminder that clarity beats complexity every time. In this episode you'll discover: • Why your business should support your life, not consume it • How to define success on your own terms • Why trying to serve everyone weakens your message • The power of consistently serving one ideal client • How valuable content builds trust long before a sale • Why action teaches lessons that books never can • The difference between contentment and complacency • How your business vision can evolve over time • The simple framework that makes marketing easier: People have a problem. You solve it. If you've ever found yourself chasing someone else's definition of success, overwhelmed by marketing advice, or wondering what you're really working toward, this episode will help bring you back to what matters most. Because at the end of the day, the question isn't how big your business can become. It's what you're actually building... and whether it's building the life you want. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    What Are You Actually Building?
See All (267)

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

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
    267
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Speakeasy Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Coffee & Grit