The Soul Proprietor

Melody Edwards and Curt Kempton
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Entrepreneurship

Each week, Hosts Curt Kempton and Melody Edwards dive into the ethical questions and dilemmas that keep entrepreneurs up at night. They love talking about the soul of your business, which means having tough conversations that challenge what we believe and push us to think deeper about business, values, and what really matters. Whether you're building your own company or exploring life's big questions, You are welcome here. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Contact: soulproprietorpodcast@gmail.com

  1. The Hiring Experiment Part 2: The Connection

    4d ago

    The Hiring Experiment Part 2: The Connection

    What does a great interview actually sound like? In Part 2 of The Hiring Experiment, the roles are reversed as Curt interviews Melody using the hiring framework he relies on today. Instead of searching for perfect answers, Curt demonstrates an approach built on curiosity, authenticity, and understanding who a candidate really is beneath the resume. Throughout the conversation, Melody steps into the role of a candidate applying for a customer success position, giving listeners a front-row seat to a modern interview process designed to uncover values, motivations, communication style, and cultural fit. Along the way, Curt explains why he avoids leading questions, how he evaluates expertise without giving away what he's looking for, and why he believes entrepreneurs should stop hiring people they've never worked with before. This episode is part interview demonstration, part hiring masterclass, and a practical look at how thoughtful questions can reveal far more than rehearsed answers ever will. What They Talk About Curt’s framework for interviews: extreme curiosity, not showing his hand, and never feeding answersWhy Melody thinks classic interviews are pressure-cookers that rarely show you who someone really isThe story about being fired for “working too hard” and why pretending to be busy might actually be the rule in some companiesThe trauma of being a teenage elf—with a glued-on mustache (and what that says about sticking it out)What makes a workplace culture truly great (spoiler: it’s not the perks, it’s the people)How both hosts have moved to paid, real-world projects as part of hiring—not just talking about fit, but testing itConversations about remote work: the risks of micromanagement, the power of memes, and staying human over ZoomMelody’s favorite interview question (hint: it’s about your best friend, not your résumé) Key Takeaways You can’t game a genuinely curious interview.. if it’s done right, there is no “right answer”Testing real work (not hypothetical scenarios) reveals so much more than traditional questionsJob fit is about values, energy, and growth.. not just skills or step-by-step instructionsBeing honest about growth, conflict, and even failures leads to way better hires and happier teams Timestamps0:00 – Melody in the hot seat, and why this experiment matters 6:16 – Curt lays out his interview framework 13:09 – The window cleaning story and what lights Melody up at work 18:27 – Mustaches, quitting, and drawing boundaries with bad bosses 26:34 – What 75% of a truly great workplace agrees about 30:27 – The real deal on remote company culture 42:23 – The paid trial project and why it’s their “business prenup” 54:47 – Debriefs, ride-alongs, and prepping people for honest interviews 64:19 – Letting go of “forever hires” and making space for growth

    1h 9m
  2. The Hiring Experiment Part 1: The Checklist

    Jun 3

    The Hiring Experiment Part 1: The Checklist

    Melody just got back from a whirlwind week of deep cleaning an inn on Cape Cod while launching a full-blown vegan detox.. yes, at the same time! This episode kicks off with that chaotic personal story before rolling into a hilarious, slightly cringey role-play of how she used to run job interviews (and all the mistakes that came with it). It’s all about the messy, mysterious art of hiring: what’s changed, what still stumps us, and why nailing the “culture fit” is way harder than anyone admits. Key Takeaways: Most interviews are performances.. people say what you want to hear because survival (aka getting paid) is on the line.True alignment isn’t about reciting the boss’s values, but about what motivates someone when no one is watching.Even after hundreds (or thousands) of hires, you can’t game the mystery out of people.. you can only build better systems and expect a little failure.Culture, capability, and manager fit all matter; a red flag in any one can unravel everything.If someone’s not a morning person, no “pretend” morning enthusiasm will last longer than a few weeks—ask us how we know. Timestamps: [00:01:29] Melody’s innkeeping and vegan cleanse escapades[00:10:14] “Hiring mistakes from a decade ago”[00:13:07] Interview style confessions (awkward silences, overselling)[00:25:53] The myth of “values-based hiring”[00:32:21] Testing tools, culture clashes, and international surprises[00:35:27] Admitting we’re still not hiring experts Definitely one for anyone who’s ever sweated over hiring… or wondered why “just hire nice people” never works out that simply.

    40 min
  3. Interview with Josh Latimer Part 3

    May 27

    Interview with Josh Latimer Part 3

    In Part 3 of Curt and Melody’s conversation with Josh Latimer, the discussion moves far beyond business tactics and into the deeper questions entrepreneurs wrestle with underneath the surface. Josh shares candidly about boredom in business, the tension between creativity and leadership, why so many entrepreneurs chase goals they don’t actually want, and how identity shapes pricing, confidence, growth, and decision-making. The episode explores the difference between cravings created by outside expectations versus genuine desires rooted in purpose and conviction. Curt, Melody, and Josh also unpack sales psychology, delegation, startup culture, mentorship, boundaries, and what it really takes to grow into the next version of yourself. This conversation feels equal parts business coaching session, philosophical discussion, and honest reflection on the emotional side of entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways: Most of what entrepreneurs claim they want is just social conditioning—figuring out your real, internally-motivated desire is a much messier process.Serving customers you “should” want to help (instead of the ones who value you) is a fast road to burnout and under-earning.Boundaries actually make people respect you more—overgiving just makes everyone (yourself included) take your value for granted.Pricing transforms how your clients show up (and how you see yourself). Sometimes doubling your price is the most generous thing you can do for both sides.Iterating in public, embracing mistakes, and treating your business as a living "science experiment" beats waiting for perfect. Timestamps: [00:00:00] Desires vs. cravings and deathbed regrets[00:07:13] The “so that” story that strips ambition to the core[00:16:13] Melody’s “oughtness” trap and finding the right customer[00:24:07] Pricing, confidence, and the weird truth about value[00:33:35] Boundaries, burnout, and the hard lessons of letting go[00:56:37] F.R.A.P. and the art (and science) of making profit actually work[01:07:08] Can you market ethically and build wealth? (Hint: yes) Connect with Soul Proprietor: Website: The Soul Proprietor Podcast Instagram: @soulproprietorpodcast LinkedIn: The Soul Proprietor Podcast Facebook: Soul Proprietor Podcast Youtube: The Soul Proprietor Podcast

    1h 17m
  4. We Were Dreamers Before We Were Entrepreneurs

    May 20

    We Were Dreamers Before We Were Entrepreneurs

    At what point do entrepreneurs stop dreaming and start only solving problems? In this deeply honest conversation, Curt and Melody explore the tension between creativity, ambition, technology, and being human in a world that never stops moving. What started as a conversation about entrepreneurship and AI turned into something much bigger: a reflection on dreaming itself. They unpack the addictive nature of execution, the pressure entrepreneurs place on themselves, and how modern technology is changing not just the way businesses operate — but the way people think, create, rest, and connect. Curt opens up about getting consumed by late-night AI building sessions and the moment Rachel confronted him about being present with his family. Melody reflects on the difference between dreaming, creating, and constantly reacting to the endless stream of possibilities AI creates. Together, they wrestle with questions many entrepreneurs are quietly asking right now: -What happens when ideas can become reality instantly? -What do humans lose when every problem gets outsourced? -And how do we protect wonder, creativity, and connection in the middle of nonstop execution? By the end of the episode, Curt and Melody challenge themselves to reconnect with something they haven’t practiced in a long time: ridiculous, childlike dreaming. Because before they were entrepreneurs… they were dreamers. Timestamps: 00:10 – Melody’s travel spiral & Kurt’s homebody era05:00 – Dreaming vs. implementing (and why teams panic at new ideas)13:10 – Addicted to AI, missing dinner, and marital intervention21:30 – “Dreaming” now just means executing—what’s lost?32:00 – Overwhelm, mental health, and sheltering our brains39:00 – Dreaming for family, dreaming as community45:05 – Ridiculous dreams (flying, performing, being a kid again)

    54 min
  5. Mel Infiltrates A Christian Business Conference

    May 13

    Mel Infiltrates A Christian Business Conference

    What happens when your values deeply align with a room full of people… but your identity still feels complicated? In this episode, Melody joins Curt live from a Christian business conference in Arkansas and opens up about something unexpectedly vulnerable: feeling like a fraud in spaces where she actually feels deeply at home. What starts as a conversation about faith quickly becomes a much bigger exploration of entrepreneurship, authenticity, self-worth, and the emotional tension many founders feel around visibility, networking, and asking for what they want. Curt and Melody unpack: Why purpose-driven entrepreneurs often struggle to advocate for themselvesThe difference between authentic connection and strategic collaborationWhy “being business-minded” can feel manipulative to relational peopleThe fear of rejection hiding underneath networking discomfortWhat it means to “hold the pose” of the person you’re becomingWhy promoting a shared mission feels easier than promoting yourselfThe surprising overlap between faith-based leadership values and ethical entrepreneurship Along the way, Melody reflects on hearing speakers like Auntie Anne’s founder Anne Beiler, wrestling with identity in unfamiliar spaces, and realizing that maybe the hardest part of growth isn’t becoming someone new — it’s allowing yourself to fully step into who you already are. This episode is honest, funny, uncomfortable in the best way, and deeply relatable for anyone building a business without wanting to lose themselves in the process. Connect with The Soul ProprietorWebsite: The Soul Proprietor Podcast Instagram: @soulproprietorpodcast LinkedIn: The Soul Proprietor Podcast Facebook: Soul Proprietor Podcast Youtube: The Soul Proprietor Podcast

    31 min
  6. Interview with Josh Latimer Part 2

    May 6

    Interview with Josh Latimer Part 2

    Ever feel like your faith, your business, and who you’re becoming… don’t quite line up anymore? That’s where this conversation goes. Curt Kempton and Melody Edwards sit down with Josh Latimer for Part 2—and instead of clean answers, they follow the tension. The result is a conversation that moves through belief, doubt, identity, and what happens when long-held frameworks start to shift. This is about answering what feels true and what doesn’t anymore. For anyone who’s felt that quiet disconnect between what they were taught and what they’re actually experiencing… this one will feel familiar. What They Talk About: Why Curt can't stand "fake it till you make it" and Josh's alternative: holding the poseThe moment business trophies start gathering dust, and what it means for identity and growthMelody's fierce struggle with inherited faith, especially when her core values collide with evangelical politicsJosh's "God as good dad" framework and why he puts religion itself on the chopping blockParenting through spiritual evolution.. how Josh talks about faith and shame with his kids (very unfiltered)The story of Uncle Roger, the lovable career criminal, and what it reveals about judgment, grace, and cosmic "grading on a curve"Why entrepreneurial paths aren't for everyone and Josh's Home Improvement marathon as parenting philosophyRiffing on economics: business as a garden vs. a pie, why value multiplies, and how real wealth is created collaboratively Key Takeaways: You can outgrow your religious programming without tossing out the concept of a loving creator.Business (done well) is about serving people, not extracting value—it’s a messy, generative web, not a zero-sum game.There’s deep power (and pain) in living with uncertainty, wrestling with faith, and giving yourself permission to change your mind.The roles we play in work, faith, and family aren’t interchangeable; your gifts matter exactly as they are. Timestamps: 00:00: Why Josh can't stand religion and how Jesus fits in01:44: The problem with "fake it till you make it" and the cost of certainty09:23: God as good dad—Josh’s first principles17:07: Sin, shame, and how Josh handles messy kid conversations25:05: Are entrepreneurs born or made? The athlete/engineer/artist tribe31:15: Wrestling with belief systems and finding spiritual freedom41:57: Serving people, not money, and reframing economic value (And yes, they planned to talk more about business and marketing. But they didn’t!)

    56 min
  7. Interview with Josh Latimer Part 1

    Apr 29

    Interview with Josh Latimer Part 1

    In this episode, Curt and Melody sit down with longtime friend and mentor Josh Latimer for a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. They dig into the uncomfortable side of growth... why leveling up often feels like loss, how identity quietly sets the ceiling for your success, and why confidence has less to do with what you know and more to do with what you’ve proven to yourself. Josh shares openly about failure, reinvention, faith, and the patterns that keep entrepreneurs stuck, even when they “know” what to do. If you’ve ever felt like you’re circling the same level despite doing the work, this conversation offers a different lens.. one that might challenge more than it comforts. Key Takeaways:You can’t carry your old identity into your next chapter.. real change feels like death, and that’s necessaryIntegrity pays off over time, even when it feels like you’re falling behind the narcissists in the short runConfidence doesn’t come from knowing more.. it comes from stacking real evidence through messy, relentless actionYour “purpose” is less about waiting for a big sign and more about showing up as yourself, right now, imperfectlyThe people at the top are usually just painfully average, except for their willingness to think bigger, move faster, and do more Timestamps:0:00 – Josh’s “if it’s worth it, do it” philosophy 8:34 – Identity deaths, destiny, and $100M generosity 17:28 – Meeting your heroes: why it matters 21:27 – Melody’s purpose-versus-profit struggle 27:26 – The messy truth about religious baggage and family 39:30 – Confidence, “holding the pose,” and the alter ego effect 44:45 – Public speaking terror and why more volume changes everything

    49 min
  8. Petty Justice: Mel Stops Being Nice and Starts Being Real.

    Apr 22

    Petty Justice: Mel Stops Being Nice and Starts Being Real.

    Melody’s nearly ready to start a fight club or at least dish out a little “petty justice.” This episode is basically what happens when you hit your late 40s and realize you’re done tiptoeing around fragile egos, especially when being “nice” never seems to work out. Curt and Melody share about a messy neighbor drama, the exhausting rules women are still expected to follow, and where standing up for yourself starts to feel like a crime. What They Talk About:The saga of Melody vs. her neighbor’s rowdy late-night parties (and why she almost landed in jail over a phone snatch)Why Melody is officially out of patience for dimming herself to coddle male egos and what happens when she doesn’tThe story about Matt’s black belt and the absolutely worst time to mention it to drunk party brosCurt’s “Bro Code” theory and how it played out when the cops showed upHow Melody’s fight for peace triggered flashbacks to her old, much scarier neighbor (yeah, the one who literally sued everyone)Why “Karen” isn’t quite the insult you think it is.. at least not when you’re just fighting for some sleepCurt’s frank take on male vs. female expectations in parenting and work (featuring Rachel’s frozen dinners)What changes and what doesn’t—frustration with slow progress, politics, and why real change takes generations Key Takeaways:Sometimes, standing up for yourself will absolutely make you “the problem” and that’s still better than shrinking.There’s a real energy boost in letting yourself feel anger instead of constantly bottling it up.The rules and expectations placed on women (and especially moms) run much deeper than most guys ever realize.If you’re tired of being a pushover, you don’t suddenly have to become a jerk.. you just get to stop apologizing for being yourself.Real change is slow, messy, and full of setbacks, but the small ways we show up matter. Timestamps:0:00 — The great neighbor meltdown/night of petty justice 10:12 — Melody’s realization: done dimming herself 18:55 — “Bro Code,” cops, and gendered assumptions 33:30 — Women in business and Melody’s double bind 43:41 — Curt’s take on mom guilt vs. dad self-permission 54:55 — Why systemic change is agonizingly slow 1:04:00 — Petty justice as self-respect (plus closing laughs)

    1h 7m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Each week, Hosts Curt Kempton and Melody Edwards dive into the ethical questions and dilemmas that keep entrepreneurs up at night. They love talking about the soul of your business, which means having tough conversations that challenge what we believe and push us to think deeper about business, values, and what really matters. Whether you're building your own company or exploring life's big questions, You are welcome here. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Contact: soulproprietorpodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Melody Edwards and Curt Kempton
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Melody Edwards and Curt Kempton
  • Show Website
    The Soul Proprietor