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PODCAST

Simply Business Podcast

John K Jennings

A business interview Podcast made by business owners for business owners called ‘**Simply Business**".We share real stories about real people in business making big things happen. Our goal is to inspire and educate current and future leaders through sharing success stories and key learnings from successful business leaders who have already navigated some of the challenges of business ownership.I believe that most business owners are working way too hard for much too little, and one of our issues is

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

41:52

It's Not What It Makes You. It's What It Costs You. ...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/10/06

How Kris Dehnert Built a $60 Million Business Without Losing Sight of What MattersWhat good is building a multimillion-dollar business if it costs you your health, happiness and time with the people who matter most?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Kris Dehnert, CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, to explore what it really means to build a successful business.Kris helped transform a simple idea—turning baseball bats into drinking mugs—into a company that has generated

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32:54

There Is No Finish Line - with Jeff Swartz

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/09/28

What happens when you finally reach the goal you've been chasing—and immediately start chasing the next one?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Jeff Swartz, CEO and Founder of Qujam, a hyper-local advertising platform helping businesses access geofencing and location-based marketing.Jeff has spent more than 20 years in marketing and advertising and more than a decade as an entrepreneur. He built and sold his own advertising agency before making the leap from a service

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28:40

You Don't Know What You're Capable of Until You're In It

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/09/22

What happens when you've already built a successful company, sold it for $20 million—and decide to start all over again?For Nellie Akalp, the second time was much harder than the first.In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Nellie, CEO of CorpNet, to talk about entrepreneurship, resilience, purpose, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.Nellie and her husband started their first company with just $100 from their Southern California apartment and eventually

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28:24

Bet on Yourself: Building a Business Without a Safety...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/09/08

What happens when you leave the security of a large firm and decide to bet on yourself?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Steve Wallace, Managing Attorney and Founder of Wallace Law, a multi-state law firm serving clients across Florida, Texas, and New York. With more than 26 years of experience in bankruptcy, real estate, distressed assets, and business law, Steve brings both a legal perspective and the firsthand experience of a longtime small business owner.Steve

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31:30

Should You Really Own a Business? With Patrice Miles

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/08/17

Is entrepreneurship the right next step—or is there a better path?In this episode of the Simply Business Podcast, John Jennings welcomes Patrice Miles, Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur's Source and host of the Journey to Business Ownership – Freedom Friday Podcast.Patrice helps professionals navigate one of life's biggest career decisions by evaluating whether business ownership truly aligns with their goals, personality, financial objectives, and desired lifestyle. Whether someone wants

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27:00

Building a Business When Only You Believes in You

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/08/03

What does it really take to build a business from scratch?In this episode of the Simply Business Podcast, John Jennings sits down with Ben Engel, owner of JBT Cleanout, to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, building momentum, and creating opportunities through action.Ben shares how he launched his company, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why networking, continuous learning, and surrounding yourself with the right people have become the foundation of his success.They also

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23:48

It’s Different When It’s Yours - Stepping Into...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/06/30

In this episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Jesse Bray, CEO of Quantum Enterprises, to talk about what it really looks like to step into ownership of an existing business.This isn’t a startup story — it’s something different.Jesse shares his experience of acquiring a company he was already familiar with — and how quickly things change when the responsibility becomes yours.We dive into the shift from employee to owner, the pressure of making decisions without a fallback, and the challenge of

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25:12

Bet on Yourself - How Doug Gardner Left Corporate...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/06/15

What does it really take to leave corporate life and build something of your own?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Doug Gardner, owner of City Wide Facility Solutions of Louisville, to talk about entrepreneurship, calculated risk, and the realities of building a company over the long haul.Doug shares his journey from finance and medical sales into business ownership, why he chose the franchise route, and what he learned after nearly 14 years of growth.Inside this

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6:33

Midyear Momentum: Why Busy Isn't the Same as Progress

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/06/08

Have you ever looked up in June or July and thought, "We've been busy this year... but what have we actually accomplished?"In this solo episode of Simply Business, John Jennings explores a challenge that many business owners and leadership teams face at the halfway point of the year: mistaking activity for momentum.Most organizations begin the year with clear goals and a focused strategy. But as the months pass, new opportunities emerge, customer requests increase, priorities multiply, and urgent

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29:05

From Corporate IT to Caring Excellence: Building a...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/06/02

What happens when an entrepreneur leaves the corporate technology world and joins a family business dedicated to caring for seniors?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Marcus O'Malley, Owner and Director of Caring Excellence Northern Kentucky. Marcus shares his journey from software development and corporate leadership into the world of senior home care, where he now helps families navigate one of life's most important challenges—caring for aging loved ones.Marcus

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29:22

Chris Morandi - Mental Fitness: Why Wellness Starts...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/05/26

What if therapy wasn’t about fixing people—but helping them become mentally stronger?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Chris Morandi, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mainspring Wellness, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, mental health, and community impact.Chris shares how Mainspring evolved from an early side project into a growing wellness-focused practice serving Northern Kentucky communities. Along the way, they discuss:✔ The difference between

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28:31

E106 - How Lauren Brown Built a Business by Adapting,...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/05/04

In this episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Lauren Brown, co-owner of Mishalis Events, to talk about what it really looks like to build and sustain a business over time.What started as a retail food and wine store evolved — through necessity, market shifts, and major disruptions like 9/11 and COVID — into one of Kentucky’s only full-service event production companies.Lauren shares how her family adapted at every stage, why reinvention has been critical to survival, and how they used one of

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24:46

e105 - How Vas Abramov Builds Businesses by...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/04/21

In this episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Vas Abramov, President of Occam Design, to talk about a principle that’s often overlooked in business — simplicity.Vas shares how his approach to business and design is rooted in cutting through complexity and focusing on what actually works. Rather than overbuilding or overthinking, he emphasizes learning through experience and refining systems in real time.We explore why so many businesses struggle by making things more complicated than they

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29:56

E104 - From a Credit Card to Global Impact: Building...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/04/14

What does it look like to build a business that creates both profit and purpose?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Kurt Reynolds, Owner and President of ReGadget, to explore how a $7,000 bet on a personal credit card turned into a fast-growing company making a real difference.ReGadget is on a mission to keep technology out of landfills and into the hands of people who need it most—bridging the digital divide for students, veterans, and underserved communities. Kurt

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1:32

Ep103-How Paul Miller turned circus life, creativity,...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/03/31

In the 103rd episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Paul Howland Miller, the self-described Chief Goof Officer behind Circus Sweets and Bircus Brewing Company. Paul has spent his career living inside the world of the circus performing, creating, and building businesses around one simple idea: doing what others think is impossible.From balloon animals and global circus tours to launching unique entertainment-driven businesses, Paul shares how creativity, curiosity, and persistence

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1:18

Ep102-Ownership, integrity, and 30 years of steady...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/03/24

In the 102nd episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Mike Mason, President of Lawn Pro in Louisville, Kentucky, to unpack what 30 years in business has taught him about leadership, growth, and integrity.Mike shares the story of joining the family business in the mid-90s, taking over operations, and ultimately purchasing the company in March 2020 right as the world shut down. What could have been a disaster turned into a defining growth season, as the company adapted, strengthened

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25:10

Ep101-How Steve Hall Is Developing Young Leaders...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/03/17

What does it look like to intentionally build young leaders inside your company?In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Steve Hall, President of M&P Logistics, to explore how faith, mentorship, and transparency shape a thriving culture.After decades in transportation including starting, scaling, and selling a trucking company Steve returned to business with a deeper purpose: to integrate faith with leadership and intentionally develop the next generation of business

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15:53

Episode 100: Stop, Start, Continue A Simple Tool for...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/03/10

Episode 100 of the Simply Business podcast marks a major milestone and a moment to pause, reflect, and simplify.In this solo episode, host and business coach John Jennings looks back on the journey of recording nearly 100 conversations with business owners. Along the way, he’s collected countless lessons about leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build a business.To celebrate the milestone, John shares one of his favorite coaching tools: Stop, Start, Continue, a simple framework he

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31:57

Ep99-How Derek Shelton Built a Health and Wellness...

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/03/03

What happens when you finally act on the idea you’ve carried for years?In the 99th episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Derek Shelton, Owner and Provider at Optimize You in Evansville (now Newburgh), Indiana. With over 20 years of experience as a nurse practitioner and leadership experience as a Chief Operating Officer in orthopedics, Derek shares how COVID accelerated innovation — and pushed him to pursue his long-standing vision of opening a health and wellness center serving

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39:40

Ep98-Scott Noonan -Own Your Story. Lead with Power.

Simply Business Podcast ·

2026/02/24

In the 98th episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Scott Noonan , President at Spear AI Analytics, for a powerful conversation about ownership, resilience, and the leadership advantage hidden inside your personal story.Too often, leaders carry silent narratives past setbacks, failures, missed opportunities that quietly shape their decisions. But what if those same experiences are the foundation of your authority?In this episode, we explore:Why owning your story changes how you leadHow

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