Coffee & Grit

Loud Mouth Studio

🎙️ 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. 2d ago

    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?
  2. Jul 6

    Share To Be Shared

    Most people think recruiting is about filling positions. Steve Clark sees it differently. To him, it's about solving problems, building relationships, and creating opportunities that change the trajectory of businesses and the people behind them. In this Difference Maker Bootcamp edition of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Steve Clark, Founder of Bespoken Placement Group, to talk about what happens when you stop treating people like transactions and start building a business around trust, generosity, and genuine connection. Steve shares the unexpected path that led him into entrepreneurship, how a series of acquisitions pushed him to bet on himself, and why his personal mantra for this year, "Share to be Shared," has become the foundation for how he approaches business and life. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is hearing how the relationships built through Difference Maker Bootcamp continue long after the sessions end. From referrals and collaborations to simply having a room full of entrepreneurs who are willing to challenge, encourage, and support one another, Steve shares why community has become one of the greatest assets in building his business. This conversation isn't just for recruiters. It's for every entrepreneur, leader, salesperson, and business owner who wants to build something that lasts. In this episode, we discuss: • Share to be shared • Relationships over transactions • Betting on yourself • The power of community • Hiring the right people • Clear communication • Building genuine partnerships • Why generosity compounds Listen in when Steve talks about helping people simply because it's the right thing to do, without expecting anything in return. Time and time again, those moments of generosity have come back around in ways he never could have predicted. That's the thread running through this entire episode. When you stop asking, "What can I get?" and start asking, "How can I help?" business becomes a whole lot more meaningful. If you're building a business, growing your network, leading a team, or looking for a community of entrepreneurs who push each other to become better, I think you'll find a lot of value in this conversation. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Share To Be Shared
  3. Jun 29

    Mind The Gap How One Simple Phrase Became A Global Mission

    Jeff Waterman didn't set out to start another drinkware company. He set out to answer a question that had been following him ever since a trip to Africa. After seeing communities without access to clean drinking water and then standing in Paris looking at a $5,000 dress, Jeff couldn't shake the gap between how people experience life around the world. Then, while riding the London Underground, he kept hearing the same announcement over and over: "Mind the gap." What started as a subway announcement became a calling.  In this Difference Maker edition of Coffee & Grit, Jeff shares the story behind Alltru, a company built on the belief that business can be a force for good and that the products we already buy every day can create real impact around the world. In this episode, we talk about: • The trip to Africa that changed Jeff's perspective forever • The story behind "Mind the Gap" and how it became the foundation for Alltru • Why fear, guilt, and shame keep so many people from living out their purpose • Building a business around significance instead of personal wealth • Why curiosity is one of the greatest leadership skills you can develop • The difference between false humility and celebrating the gifts you've been given • Why surrounding yourself with the right people accelerates every vision • How faith, purpose, and business can work together to create lasting impact One of my favorite moments in the conversation is when Jeff says that whether Alltru succeeds or fails doesn't determine whether he was successful. Success, to him, is being faithful to what he believes God called him to build. That's a perspective we don't hear nearly enough in business. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the biggest ideas don't begin with a business plan. They begin with a burden. A question you can't stop asking, amessage you can't ignore., and the courage to take the first step before you have all the answers.  If you're an entrepreneur, leader, Difference Maker, or someone who has ever felt called to build something bigger than yourself, I think you're going to love this conversation. Additional Show Notes: Learn more about Alltru and support their mission: https://alltru.com Follow Alltru on social media to learn how everyday purchases are helping bring clean drinking water and hope to communities around the world. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Mind The Gap How One Simple Phrase Became A Global Mission
  4. Jun 22

    In A World Of Fake, People Buy Real

    This episode is a bit of a throwback to the OG Coffee & Grit style. There is no formal introduction. No perfectly crafted opening. No roadmap. No "let's start here and work our way there." Terry Bean and I sat down, hit record, and started talking. The funny thing is, that ended up becoming one of the biggest lessons of the entire conversation. In a world where everyone seems to be chasing the perfect content strategy, the perfect social media post, the perfect networking approach, the perfect sales script, and the perfect personal brand, we spend this conversation exploring a much simpler idea: People connect with what's real. What starts as a conversation between two friends quickly turns into a discussion about communication, self awareness, blind spots, behavior, storytelling, leadership, relationships, and why so many people struggle to connect with others despite being more connected than ever. In this episode, we talk about: • Why authenticity beats production • The stories we're most afraid to tell and why they're often the ones people need to hear • Blind spots, self awareness, and the feedback we don't always want • Why bad communicators often don't realize they're bad communicators • The difference between personality and behavior • How understanding behavior can improve leadership, sales, and relationships • Why people don't buy bricks, they buy the cathedral • The power of meeting people where they are instead of where you wish they were • Why specificity creates connection and "everybody" is never your audience One of the things I've always appreciated about Terry is his ability to take complex ideas and make them practical. His work with Behavioral Elements is centered around helping people better understand themselves and the people around them so they can communicate more effectively, lead more intentionally, and build stronger relationships. However, underneath all of that is a message that aligns perfectly with what Coffee & Grit has always been about.The goal isn't to impress people.The goal is to connect with them. Sometimes the best conversations aren't the ones we plan. They're the ones that happen when we stop performing, stop trying to sound smart, and simply show up as ourselves. This episode is a reminder that authenticity isn't a strategy.It's the strategy. Additional Show Notes Learn more about Terry Bean and Behavioral Elements: BehavioralElements.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    In A World Of Fake, People Buy Real
  5. Jun 15

    Vivid Living: Helping People Move Into Their Best Life

    I love this episode because it is a perfect example of what the Difference Maker Bootcamp series is all about. When Chad Krumrei first joined Bootcamp, I immediately saw someone who cared deeply about people. Over the course of 12 weeks, I watched him encourage others, invest in relationships, and show up consistently to Make A Difference. It became very clear why he and his wife Elena have built such a successful real estate business. What makes this conversation so powerful is that it really is not about real estate. It is about service, trust, and about putting relationships ahead of transactions. In a world where many people think sales is about persuasion, Chad and Elena have built their business by educating, guiding, and protecting people through one of the biggest decisions of their lives. In this episode, we talk about: • Elena's journey from middle school math teacher to Realtor • Building a husband and wife business together • Why communication wins more deals than sales tactics • The biggest mistakes buyers and sellers make • The hidden risks of For Sale By Owner transactions • Why your reputation matters long before the closing table • Faith, family, and building a business with purpose • How putting relationships first creates long-term success One of my favorite moments is when Chad talks about trying to talk buyers out of houses. Not because he wants them to walk away. Because he wants them to slow down, think clearly, and make decisions they will feel good about long after closing day. That philosophy says everything you need to know about who Chad and Elena are. If you're an entrepreneur, leader, home buyer, home seller, or simply someone who believes business should be built on trust and relationships, I think you're going to enjoy this conversation. Because at the end of the day, this episode is not about houses. It's about helping people move into their best life. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    Vivid Living: Helping People Move Into Their Best Life
  6. Jun 8

    People Are Ionizable: The Missing Piece In Leadership, Sales, and Life

    When most people hear the word connection, they think about networking. This conversation goes much deeper than that! In this episode of Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Toby Brazwell for a powerful conversation about relationships, leadership, vulnerability, sales, parenting, personal growth, and why connection may be the most important skill any of us can develop. Toby has built a successful career in insurance, leadership, and coaching, but what became clear throughout this conversation is that insurance is simply the vehicle. His true passion is helping people build stronger connections with themselves, their families, their teams, and their communities.  We talk about: Why connection is so much bigger than networkingGrowing up constantly moving and learning how to build relationships quicklyThe power of vulnerability in leadership and parentingWhy men do not need to have all the answersTeaching our sons and daughters that strength is not perfectionHow role playing can improve relationships just as much as salesWhy hard conversations are rarely as bad as the stories we create in our headsThe importance of building trust before you need itHow connection impacts marriage, parenting, business, and communityWhy "no" often just means "not right now"The lessons hidden inside failure, rejection, and resilienceWhat surrender really means and why it is often a sign of strength, not weaknessOne of the most powerful ideas in this episode is something Toby says repeatedly: People are ionizable.  In other words, we are built for connection. We need relationships. We need community. We need people who challenge us, support us, believe in us, and help us become more than we could become on our own. Throughout the conversation, Toby shares incredible analogies, stories from his career, lessons from sales and leadership, and the inspiration behind the new book he is currently writing on connection and human relationships. But beneath all of that is a simple truth: The quality of our lives is often determined by the quality of our connections. With our spouse, our children, our teams, our communities, and ultimately with ourselves. This is one of those conversations that will make you think differently about the people around you and the relationships you may be taking for granted. If you are a leader, entrepreneur, parent, salesperson, coach, or simply someone looking to create deeper relationships and a more meaningful life, this episode is for you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    People Are Ionizable:  The Missing Piece In Leadership, Sales, and Life
  7. Jun 1

    The Ideas You Never Stop Thinking About

    What happens when you retire from the family business… but your brain refuses to stop building? This week on Coffee & Grit, I sit down with Todd Bailey for a conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, creativity, fantasy football, app development, and what it looks like to finally pursue the ideas that have been sitting in your head for years. Todd spent decades in the family dealership business before stepping into a completely different season of life after the business sold. Instead of slowing down, he found himself diving headfirst into writing, game creation, fantasy football formats, and building something he genuinely wished existed himself. And honestly… that’s what makes this episode great. This is a real conversation with real stories about testing ideas, taking expensive punches, learning from setbacks, listening to feedback, and continuing to move forward anyway. We talk about: What happens after the family business chapter endsWhy most people never pursue the ideas they keep thinking aboutThe hard lessons of app development and entrepreneurial pivotsWhy Todd completely reimagined fantasy footballCreating fantasy football formats without drafts and with stock-market style player valuesThe importance of listening to customer feedback without taking it personallyTurning passion into a business opportunityThe difference between having ideas and actually executing themWhy action creates clarity faster than overthinking ever willLeaving your worries at the “worry tree” before walking into your homeOne of the biggest themes throughout this conversation is simple: Just make it happen. Todd openly talks about building things before having all the answers, learning as he goes, making mistakes, pivoting, and realizing that the only way to know if an idea works is to put it into the world. And beneath all the fantasy football talk is a much deeper message about reinvention, creativity, and refusing to let curiosity die just because one chapter of life ends. Because sometimes the next thing you are supposed to build is hiding inside the thing you’ve loved your whole life. If you are someone with ideas sitting in your head, a business you keep talking yourself out of starting, or a creative itch you have been ignoring… this episode will hit home. Connect with Todd Bailey & Extreme Fantasy Football 🏈 Website: ExtremeFF.com 📲 App coming soon to Apple & Google devices 🎙️ Podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeartRadio Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    The Ideas You Never Stop Thinking About
  8. May 25

    What Happens When You Refuse To Quit

    Last August, Hayden Larance sat down with me for an impromptu episode of Coffee & Grit. At the time, he was just getting started.  Trying to figure things out, building his business, making cold calls, and chasing the feeling that there had to be more than the “normal” path everyone told him he was supposed to follow. Since then, a lot has changed. This episode is not some polished “I made it” success story. It’s a real conversation about what happens in the lonely chapter of entrepreneurship. The chapter where you leave behind comfort and certainty, but you have not yet fully arrived at the life you are trying to build. Hayden shares the story of moving to Central America to go all in on building his business, thinking it would be beaches, adventure, and productivity… only to land in Costa Rica during rainy season with empty streets, isolation, emotional battles, and the harsh reality of having nobody around to save him from himself. And honestly, that’s where the real growth started. We talk about:Why the work changes you before the business changesLearning to do the work even when you don’t feel good emotionallyThe loneliness that comes with entrepreneurship and growthWhy “reps” are the real secret behind confidence and momentumHayden committing to 100 cold calls a day for 30 daysBuilding community while building a businessThe power of documenting the real journey instead of pretending you already wonWhy relationships are still the greatest business asset in a world obsessed with automation and AIClient retention, communication, and taking the transaction out of the interactionLearning how to delegate and stop being the bottleneck in your own businessWhat happens when you stop accepting other people’s limitations as your realityOne of the most powerful themes throughout this episode is the idea that you can create your own version of the “real world.” Hayden talks about people telling him after college that “the best years of your life are behind you.” He refused to believe that. Instead of accepting the script he was handed, he decided to go build a different life. And this conversation is really about that decision. The decision to keep going when it’s hard. The decision to keep showing up when nobody sees the work yet. The decision to stop letting fear and other people’s ceilings define your future. This is one of those episodes that will deeply resonate with entrepreneurs, creators, and Difference Makers who know they are capable of more, but are still somewhere in the middle of becoming. Because the truth is… Most people never fail because they aren’t capable. They fail because they quit before the reps start compounding. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/coffee-grit--5708348/support.

    What Happens When You Refuse To Quit
5
out of 5
6 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.