The Unscripted Climb

Chris Beecham and Natalie Micale

Welcome to The Unscripted Climb. This is the podcast where business gets real and the filters get left at the door. Hosted by Chris Beecham, a no-fluff entrepreneur who’s sold plasma to keep the lights on, and Natalie Micale, a branding expert who’s built more than her fair share of empires from scratch. We’re here to talk about what actually happens behind the highlight reels. This isn’t your manifest your best life show. This is for the founders, leaders, and business owners who’ve white-knuckled their way through growth, failure, reinvention, and maybe a public meltdown or two. Why Listen? Because behind every shiny brand is a messy middle. We ask the questions most podcasts won’t What was your biggest screw-upHow close were you to quittingAnd what kept you from walking awayWhat You’ll Hear: • Wild origin stories • Marketing disasters and comebacks • Real-talk sales advice • Team dynamics that don’t make it into LinkedIn posts • And the kind of lessons you only learn after failing hard Our Vibe? Dry humor. Sharp insights. Candid convos with zero corporate gloss. If you're tired of recycled advice and ready for the honest version of entrepreneurship, you're in the right place. Subscribe and join the climb. Awkward stumbles and all.

  1. Daine Patton: From Pest Control to Building a Wildlife Business

    10/16/2025

    Daine Patton: From Pest Control to Building a Wildlife Business

    Send us a text In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Daine Patton, the founder of Bats to Rats, to talk about his wild ride from pest control rookie to wildlife management CEO—and the 100-pound transformation that changed his life. Daine opens up about becoming a dad at 19, navigating marriage and business, and how COVID ironically became one of his biggest growth opportunities. From hiring challenges to personal health battles, this episode is full of straight-up entrepreneurial truth and transformation. Whether you're scaling a service business, managing chaos at home, or trying to shed the weight (literal or metaphorical), this one hits hard. 🔥 What You’ll Learn: How Daine went from pest control to owning a wildlife removal businessWhy COVID-19 helped his business explodeThe leadership challenges of hiring (and firing) friendsHow he lost over 100 lbs and kept it offThe connection between discipline in fitness and business growthWhy starting small in personal development worksWhat it takes to lead a team when everything is on the line📌 Chapters (YouTube): 00:00 – Navigating Personal and Professional Life 08:28 – The Journey of Entrepreneurship 17:22 – Building a Team and Overcoming Challenges 26:45 – Health, Wellness, and Family Priorities 27:53 – The Turning Point: A Father's Reflection 32:20 – Commitment to Change: The Journey Begins 35:46 – Transforming Body and Mind: The Power of Weight Training 42:09 – Beyond Fitness: Personal Development and Business Growth 49:26 – Sharing the Journey: Leadership and Community Impact 💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people. 👉 Perch-Merch.com 👉 OhHelloAgency.co 🔗 Connect with Us: Chris Beecham on LinkedIn Natalie Micale on LinkedIn Check out our podcast website here

    54 min
  2. Nathan Karaway- The Unfiltered Rise of Premier Brick

    10/09/2025

    Nathan Karaway- The Unfiltered Rise of Premier Brick

    Send us a text In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, Chris Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with Nate Karaway, founder of Premier Brick, to talk about how a career built in corporate turned into a mission to build with literal grit. Nate shares his unfiltered entrepreneurial journey—from sports to the brick industry, from desk job to design consultancy. He breaks down how Premier Brick is more than just a materials supplier—it's a purpose-driven business focused on education, community impact, and passionate leadership. Expect stories about: Jumping from the comfort of corporate life into the fire of entrepreneurshipUsing brick to rebuild communities after disasterBuilding a team that actually wants to be thereAnd yes, what it means to “eat the frog” (figuratively speaking—we hope)This episode is packed with tactical takeaways and real talk for anyone scaling a business, chasing a vision, or just trying to survive the next client meeting. 📌 YouTube Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to the Unscripted Climb Podcast  01:56 - Nate Karaway's Entrepreneurial Journey  08:05 - The Birth of Premier Brick  11:56 - Navigating the Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship  18:55 - The Impact of Brick on Lives and Communities  24:05 - Building a Passionate Team  30:04 - Scaling a Design Consultancy  35:48 - Overcoming Challenges in Business Growth  39:59 - Vision for the Future of Premier Brick 💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people. 👉 Perch-Merch.com 👉 OhHelloAgency.co 🔗 Connect with Us: Chris Beecham on LinkedIn Natalie Micale on LinkedIn Check out our podcast website here

    43 min
  3. 09/25/2025

    Ep 9 Surf Shops, Apparel, and Entrepreneur Grit with Steven Vitale

    Send us a text Steven Vitale doesn’t just run a surf boutique and an apparel brand—he’s building two movements. In this episode of The Unscripted Climb, hosts Christopher Beecham and Natalie Micale sit down with the founder of Cape Maid and Lifting Culture Apparel to unpack the reality of running multiple businesses, staying creative, and managing debt while still finding joy in the grind. Whether you're scaling a retail brand or just trying to pay off startup credit cards, this episode will hit home. Steven dives into: Building an online presence that actually convertsCross-promoting between two brandsHow DJing and music fuel his business creativityMarket research and choosing the right brick-and-mortar locationThe not-so-glamorous side of entrepreneurship (spoiler: debt)Email marketing and customer loyalty strategiesWhy resilience and finding joy matter more than perfectionThis isn’t just a highlight reel. It's the messy, motivating, brutally honest story of what it really takes to build something meaningful. 🧠 Keywords: entrepreneurship, Steven Vitale, Cape Maid, Lifting Culture Apparel, small business, creativity in business, apparel brand, surf boutique, debt management, brick-and-mortar success, e-commerce strategy, market research, cross promotion, customer engagement, online presence, business growth, startup struggle, retail branding, email marketing, resilience, The Unscripted Climb podcast ⏱️ Chapters (YouTube): 00:00 – Entrepreneurial Journey and Cape Maid Overview 02:35 – The Brick and Mortar Experience 04:53 – Lifting Culture Apparel: A Decade of Learning 07:45 – Building a Culture in Business 10:29 – The Role of AI in Entrepreneurship 13:04 – Creativity and DJing as an Entrepreneurial Outlet 15:59 – Future Aspirations in Music and Business 18:35 – Comparing Business Models: Cape Maid vs. Lifting Culture 21:34 – Seasonality and Location Strategy for Cape Maid 25:03 – Understanding Sales Trends and Market Dynamics 27:33 – The Evolution of Lifting Culture and Event Marketing 30:45 – The Importance of Email Marketing and Customer Engagement 32:29 – Cross-Promotion Strategies for Business Growth 35:06 – Navigating Challenges and Making Tough Choices 38:43 – Balancing Debt and Entrepreneurship 44:05 – Embracing Change and Exploring New Opportunities 💥 Want a free merch or brand audit? Just ask. No pressure, just people helping people. 👉 Perch-Merch.com 👉 OhHelloAgency.co 🔗 Connect with Us: Chris Beecham on LinkedIn Natalie Micale on LinkedIn Check out our podcast website here

    47 min

About

Welcome to The Unscripted Climb. This is the podcast where business gets real and the filters get left at the door. Hosted by Chris Beecham, a no-fluff entrepreneur who’s sold plasma to keep the lights on, and Natalie Micale, a branding expert who’s built more than her fair share of empires from scratch. We’re here to talk about what actually happens behind the highlight reels. This isn’t your manifest your best life show. This is for the founders, leaders, and business owners who’ve white-knuckled their way through growth, failure, reinvention, and maybe a public meltdown or two. Why Listen? Because behind every shiny brand is a messy middle. We ask the questions most podcasts won’t What was your biggest screw-upHow close were you to quittingAnd what kept you from walking awayWhat You’ll Hear: • Wild origin stories • Marketing disasters and comebacks • Real-talk sales advice • Team dynamics that don’t make it into LinkedIn posts • And the kind of lessons you only learn after failing hard Our Vibe? Dry humor. Sharp insights. Candid convos with zero corporate gloss. If you're tired of recycled advice and ready for the honest version of entrepreneurship, you're in the right place. Subscribe and join the climb. Awkward stumbles and all.