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By the summer of 2019, Disney’s run of movies based on Marvel Comics characters had made over 22 billion in ticket sales. This translates to a lot of people who love to buy things like geek-themed apparel. The average geek is spending over $100 a year on apparel specific to their interests. Some are spending several hundred dollars a year. That only covers apparel. And within geek apparel, you can find entrepreneurs and creative minds creating clothing that hits even more specific notes. Do you know someone who loves geek culture, but they’re also an entrepreneur? Perhaps a veteran, as well? Where would you go to buy such specific items? These are questions answered beautifully by our guest, Latoya Cooper from Chic Geek Apparel.

For an event business empire that began unexpectedly, Amaris Taylor has built a strong, creative business: Simply Chic Soirées. Even in the face of COVID-19, Amaris continues to promote her passion and calling in life, while working with a wide array of clients to make their dreams come true for a special event they will remember always.

There is something about enjoying homemade baked goods with friends and loved ones that seems to relax the soul. This is not a new feeling. Dating back thousands of years to Egypt, to Ancient Rome, and to the colonies of early America, one consistency remains: People like to come together for a beverage, some baked goods, and perhaps some gossip. With a market size of 11-billion dollars, our love of cookies, cakes, brownies, breads, and other baked goods is not likely to diminish anytime soon. While the COVID-19 pandemic did result in a 1.3% revenue decline for 2020, entrepreneurs from every imaginable background are committed to establishing and succeeding with bakeries of their own. That brings us to our inspiring and uniquely innovative guest. Ashley Bush is the owner of the Buttermilk Baking Company. A Newburyport, Massachusetts essential. Ashley combines two things that make her a perfect entrepreneur for this day and age. She bakes some of the tastiest cakes, muffins, and pies you’re going to find anywhere. She also combines those baked goodies with a wicked sense of humor, and a healthy appreciation of all things meme culture.

There are wonderwomen and then there are genuine powerhouses like Tamika Jackson. If you're looking to hear about a woman who has thrown everything she has into creating her own empire within a male-dominated field, this is the episode for you. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Tamika Jackson of CrO Biosciences.

Inspired by her personal journey to improve her health, Kerrie Chaney established Honey Fit. Today, they are one of the most popular athleisure retailers in the world. Refusing to put limitations on where and when you can wear their athleisure apparel, their clothing reflects the belief that when you look good, you feel good. Their clothes aspire to provide comfort and versatility for any woman who needs both of those things going from the workout to the workplace.

As challenging as the pandemic has been for everyone, on the positive side of this entire roller coaster ride of a time, we’ve seen many companies rise up and take on the challenge of protecting and safeguarding citizens across the US and even globally from the deadly virus. Modern-day companies seem to have revived the world war 2 U.S. manufacturing and innovative spirit. From distilleries producing hand sanitizers to apparel companies making face masks to keep us all safe and protected against an unrelenting and invisible to the human eye, advisory! One such company is LMI Textiles, an organization that has placed all of its collective elbow greases into the perfection and distribution of personal protective equipment. Today’s guest is involved firsthand in ensuring that our first responders and frontline workers are well protected. Tune in to this episode and light the fuse with Founder and CEO of LMI Textiles, Legrand Lindor!

Megan Merid has always kept it REAL be it in business or her personal advocacies. Having co-founded REALHER Cosmetics and igniting their business towards success, Megan continues to empower all types of women with their brand of beauty that's anchored on one's authenticity. Tune in to her episode to learn about her entrepreneurial secrets!

Chase Norlin has been building starter companies for 20 years including the first video sharing platform on the internet five years before YouTube. Today he's protecting many small businesses through the work they're doing with Transmosis, a nationally recognized Cyber Security Workforce Developer and CyberOps company, with military-grade cybersecurity protection for small businesses. Tune in to his episode to learn about some helpful business tips and see if your business is protected against the evolving threats of the digital age!

Mark Ormrod started to serve in the Royal Marines at 18 until the Christmas Eve of 2007 when he became UK's first triple amputee to survive since the First World War. Turning this tragedy around, Mark has realized that there are still #NoLimits to what he can achieve in life. He has since shared his amazing journey towards success through public speaking and several other platforms. Tune in to his episode to find out more about his secrets to success!

After serving 8 years in the Marine Corps, Matt Sapaula decided to get his license in insurance and began his success story. Now 22 years in the industry, Matt has been able to guide and help a lot of people become #MoneySmart with PHP Agency and the #7LeagueSquad. Tune in to his episode to learn the secrets to his financial success!

Kent Lai shares the most important thing you can do with your accountant, trust them. Accountants know where to find the problem and how to help you when it comes to tax preparation. Listen to his episode to find out more tips and tricks about finding the right accountant for you!

Darla Kim has always been an advocate for equal access and opportunity. Bringing in her passion into the business world, she built Deaf Ability Resource. An organization dedicated to making sure that the applicants that the members of the deaf community go through their job applications with genuine equality and that they get the fair opportunities that their skillset and talents deserve through DAR's services. Now at 6 years in the industry and at a 65% placement rate, Deaf Ability Resource Inc. has grown towards success through Darla Kim's leadership. Tune in to her episode and be inspired, motivated, and enlightened about her advocacies and about some valuable business tips!

Dr. Paul Kim is the founder of MASQ Optical, stands with the eye care community in the long-standing practice of giving back in the neighborhoods we serve. After fulfilling his Army duty, he continued to provide eyecare for many people in his community where he was able to observe the customers’ frustration with the whole eyewear buying experience. With these frustrations in mind, he launched his business, paring premium frame and lenses to offer a simple way to buy glasses creating the customer experience that has helped ignite MASQ Optical towards the success it is today! Tune in to his episode to find out how you can create the customer experience that would fit your brand best!

It seems like these days, everyone with a high-resolution digital camera thinks they’ve got what it takes to turn their hobby into a business. We can see why! With a market size of nearly ten billion, from the outside, photography seems like a great way to earn a piece of this market share while doing fun, creative work. Despite this, the photography industry is declining at a rate of 10% annually. Since the idea of paying someone to capture life’s most critical moments can often feel like a luxury, the photography business rises and falls with the state of our economy. Unfortunately, as social isolation prevails and people struggle to afford luxuries, like many businesses during covid, the photography business has taken a tremendous hit here recently. Beyond the struggles brought by current events, many people who open their own photography business quickly realize that it’s not all they thought it would be. Photographers who were previously able to focus solely on their art, are asked to become business managers, tax experts, and more, when they make the decision to go it solo. For this reason, in the first year of owning a photography business, more than 60% of self-employed photographers will give up and throw in the towel. Only 15% of the remaining business owners will make it through to the third year of owning their business. However, Neshaszda Wright from Neshaszda Z Photography defies the odds and shares with us what it’s like to be a successful photographer, business owner, published author, mom, wife, military veteran, and a philanthropist just to name a few. You won’t want to miss what she has to say!

Having found his passion for photography during his last stint in the Marine Corps, Aidan Demolli decided to build his own production company right after his years in service. Initially focusing on photography and videography, his company has now grown to also offer social media management, web design, and branding. Tune in to his episode to find out more about how he made use of both his military experience and his passion to ignite his business!

Larry Broughton is an award-winning hotelier and entrepreneur, CEO, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and former US Army Green Beret. As Founder and CEO of Orange County, California-based Broughton Hotels, CBS News has called Larry “the nation’s foremost expert on leadership and entrepreneurship,” while the host of Travel Channel’s hit show, Hotel Impossible, says he is, “among the top hospitality experts in the country.” His upbeat, creative approach to business and life has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles across the country and he has been a recurring guest expert on news and TV programs on every major television and cable network, including MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, CBS, and Travel Channel. Among Larry’s awards are: Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year®; the National Veteran-Owned Business Association’s Vetrepreneur® of the Year; and Passkeys Foundation’s National Business Leader of Integrity. You can learn more about Larry at www.TheLarryBroughton.com.

Aaron Hale learned discipline by serving in both the Army and the Navy. When his unit came across an unknown IED, it changed his life forever by taking away his sight and hearing. He found motivation again cooking Fudge and created EOD Confections. Listen to his episode to learn more about Aaron’s journey!

The owners of the Farmhouse Siloam, Kelleigh Marin, and Dee are truly an iconic duo. This mother-daughter pair does everything at their wedding venue from FaceTiming clients to providing an extensive list of vendors to ensuring the perfect wedding day. Listen to their episode to find out how they started their business, marketing strategies for a wedding venue, and some unexpected events that could happen when worlds collide!

Brian Banks, from Fort Worth, Texas, talked to us about his business and how to grow his follower base not once, not twice but FOUR times. He has been successful in this endeavor every single time. Brian visits mom-and-pop shops and gives honest reviews of their food. Listen to his episode to find out how he developed his business, the Fort Worth Fatso!

Creations with HART by Max and Marilyn Hartman is a veteran-owned, family-operated woodworking business. They specialize in making flags for veterans but can also make your custom dreams come true! Listen to their episode to learn about their entrepreneurial journey!