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There are so many paths to take when you get into entrepreneurship. In this episode, host Steph Silver chats with Lou Earle on his journey from the military, starting a family business, and venturing into authorship. Lou is the co-owner of and CEO of Austin Fit Magazine, a US Navy veteran and author. He goes into detail about what it was like to work with his family, comparing his experience working with larger firms and how it helped. Lou also introduces the first installment of his spy trilogy, Apogee: A Mac Sisco Novel, sharing the inspiration for the book and the behind-the-scenes of what it’s like to publish his first novel. Gather valuable insights from Lou’s journey as a risk-taking entrepreneur by tuning in.

Kent and Karen Killough traveled the world and fell in love with the European experience of breweries. They decided that they wanted to bring that refreshing experience to the Texas Hill Country... and so they did! With a lot of hard work and planning, they created an oasis of live music, culinary excellence, natural beauty, and yes, amazing beer! The couple joins Steph Silver to share how one car ride and a handy notebook gave birth to Vista Brewing. They explain how their brewery provides more than just good beer. Instead, they also offer a relaxing escape from bustling cities, warm hospitality, and a unique mix of Driftwood’s old and new atmosphere.

Loving and caring for animals is just the beginning of a pet care business. Shannon Rigby takes it to a whole new level with technology, excellent staffing, and a passion for truly making her customers feel like they are taken of and have nothing to worry about when they are away. Shannon is the owner of Puppy Love Pet Sitting, a pet care business based out of Wimberley, Texas. Her story is a textbook example on the process of figuring out the ins and outs of running a small business. But most importantly, her story is full of examples of the mindset shifts that business owners have to go through in order to be successful. And what a feeling it must have been to start a business out of something you truly love! Tune in and get inspired by Shannon’s success story!

It doesn't matter whether you're a teenager suffering from acne or an elderly person aging gracefully; everyone needs skin care. This is what drove Sharla Edmondson to get into the beauty business. Sharla knew that she wanted to help people, and she discovered that beauty was one way she could serve. After working in spas for a few years, she mustered up the courage, followed her heart, and took the leap to start her own business, Genesis Beauty Company. She wanted to really be able to spend more time with her customers and truly overcome their beauty and health challenges. Now she's able to connect and give in a whole new way while getting to spend more time with her family.   Join Steph Silver as she talks with Sharla Edmondson about what it's like to run her own spa. Learn how what you eat affects your skin. Discover what skincare products you should be using. And understand why it's important to always make time for yourself. Start making your dreams a reality, and just do it!

Finding long-term success in any industry is a feat in itself. In this episode, John Anderson shares how he found his decades of success in pharmacy as the owner of B&J Pharmacy and Wimberley Pharmacy. John always knew he wanted to be a pharmacist and had an idea that he wanted to own one. Three decades later, he's been the proud, happy, and proud owner of two small-town compound pharmacies that offer holistic healing options for the whole family. His secret - optimism. In his chat with host Steph Silver, John shares valuable insights into different topics such as compounding, drug interactions, health and aging. He also talks about how they managed the change in prescribing habits during the pandemic. Most of all, John explains how a positive mindset is key for a prosperous business and how to hiring for that disposition is also a valuable tool. Stay tuned!

 Filmmaking is one of the most arduous yet rewarding content creation processes. It combines visuals and audio to create stunning materials, perfect for catering to people's extremely short attention spans these days. Given its powerful engagement traction, businesses can benefit from filmmaking in building their brand. This is what Kris Green does through his company, Wimberley Films. Joining Steph Silver, he shares how they create video content to help businesses jumpstart a strong marketing campaign, emphasizing how this creates a deep connection with the target market. Kris also shares his journey from starting as a graphic artist, a creator of wedding videos, to becoming a producer of brand message films. He reflects on the challenges of selling himself as an artist, which requires a lot of confidence and consistency.

Chill's on the Creek is a family-friendly restaurant in Wimberley, Texas. They have amazing food combined with an amazing outdoor view. It's the perfect place to chill with your friends and family. Chase and his wife worked for years in the restaurant industry until they were offered a chance of a lifetime - the opportunity to purchase the restaurant they both managed for years. They thought they knew exactly what they were getting into, but just a few months after they signed the papers, the world as we knew it came to a halt. Almost 3 years later and they have yet to see a consistent pattern of business but are still enjoying the ride. Join Steph Silver as she talks to Chase. Learn how he went from a managerial role and waiting tables to the owner of a restaurant. Find out how they survived and overcame the pandemic to make Chill's a Wimberley staple.

It takes a lot of responsibility in running a family business. Your parents could’ve easily sold it for more money. So you have to show that you are ready and up for the task. Shauna Duggar grew up working alongside her father in the carpet and flooring industry but never imagined she would be the co-owner of Quality Floors & More with her husband, Brandon. After a few years of military travel, the couple came home to raise their family and were invited to join the business Shauna's Dad had successfully run for years. When it was clear that Shauna and Brandon were ready, the business became theirs. Join in as Shauna shares how she balances her life as a mother and her life as a business owner. Learn how to run a family business and how you can help continue its legacy. Discover some entrepreneurial advice today!

Tad and Christy Degenhart don't just own the local hardware store, they take care of their Central Texas community. Keeping a well-oiled machine of happy employees comes easily to this couple, and they do their best to support the rest of the Wimberley community as much as they can. Christy joins Steph Silver to share how they used their ACE Hardware franchise to give back to the people, particularly after the 2015 floods devastated this area. They did not only donate money, time, hard work, and hardware, but they also spent countless hours feeding those whose homes were lost or in complete disrepair. Christy also shares tips for aspiring female entrepreneurs, striking the best work-life balance, and hiring the most responsible people for your team.

Massage therapy soothes more than the physical body. It is also a process of energy healing that taps deep within the soul. In another episode of the local series focused on Wimberley Valley organizations, Steph Silver is joined by Alaria Godwin, who has spent most of his life healing others. Alaria took a traditional path into Corporate America, only to make a huge shift and build a healing practice in Wimberley, where she now owns and runs Body Insight. In this conversation, she talks about the benefits of MLD, cupping, and acupuncture in healing physical pain and even emotional trauma. Alaria also discusses how to let go of a people-pleasing attitude, see yourself from the perspectives of others, and build your own self-reflective space.

For years, professional landscaper Matt Horvath had a dream of owning his own garden nursery. When he married Jennie, they shared that dream and it didn’t take long for all the pieces to fall into place. With a lot of hard work and a little intervention from the universe they now own and operate Wimberley Gardens. Matt worked in a nursery for nearly 20 years and managed it for almost a decade, so to finally see his dream come to fruition is a blessing. Together with their two daughters, Matt and Jennie have established themselves as respectable entrepreneurs and a gift to the Wimberley community. Join in and listen to their inspiring story!

Taking a business to success is all about teamwork. And who can doubt the bond of a family when it comes to that? This episode's guest, Garret Henry, is great proof of that. Garret opened his own flooring and countertops business after years of sales and service. GWH Flooring is located in Wimberley, Texas and serves surrounding towns, including San Marcos, Dripping Springs, and Fredericksburg. GWH has grown quickly and continues to thrive because Garret, his family, and his team are passionate about providing superior quality, service, and craftsmanship. In this conversation, he joins Steph Silver to share his journey—from being a fireman to learning the sales process to eventually growing his own world-class family flooring business. Join him as he shares more of his wisdom and experience in taking care of his family, his team, his clients, and his business.

Rachelle DeMichele L Ac, MAcOM, Dipl. OM owns and operates a healing clinic in Dripping Springs, Texas, called Hill Country Healing Haven. Her struggles with endometriosis, digestive disorders and depression/anxiety led her to seek help with Oriental medicine and meditation. Through these modalities, she found profound healing and realized her path included facilitating this healing in others. Her style of practice embodies a respect and reverence for the body, mind and spirit of all beings. In this episode of MVP Business we discuss her journey of healing herself and others, how she determines what modalities of healing will be most effective to her patients, and how she keeps her joy and passion active in her daily work.

Sheila and Lance Beck own a heating and cooling business in San Marcos Texas. This husband-and-wife couple are uber dedicated to providing incredible service that creates a healthy living space. That means they will recommend services that benefit the customer, not their bottom line. They also dedicate a large amount of time to educating local students, training their technicians, and giving back to the community. Today, they join Steph Silver to share the story of how AirOne, their HVAC service company, came to be and how they’re building a profitable business by providing better service and getting involved with the community.

When organizations create a work environment of trust, respect, and safety, it propels the workforce where they’re not only surviving but thriving. Esther Weinberg defines this as the “ready zone,” an environment in which the leader, the team, the employees, and the organization as a whole, are 100% committed to having people feel valued for who they are and their humanity in addition to their contribution. Esther is a business growth accelerator and the Founder of The Ready Zone. Today, she joins Steph Silver to discuss leadership, career change, change management, and propelling your workforce. 

Brent and Karen Looby were happily successful a military man and senior research associate and teacher until Brent retired and wanted to do something fun and meaningful.In this episode of MVP Business we discuss their journey of opening a liquor business steeped in Texas history and how that transitioned into starting a non-profit organization that restores Texas lands.After a lot of research and education, they opened Desert Door Distillery in Driftwood, Texas, where they craft and distill Sotol. Their brand and company pillars are Originality, Authenticity & Connection and the best and most authentic way Karen found to embody that was to start a 501c3 that restores Texas lands. Starting with local partnerships with businesses like Spoke Hollow, they quickly soared and landed a partnership with Texan By Nature, a non-profit founded by Laura Bush.Did you know that Sotol has been around for almost 300 years, making it one of the worlds first consumed spirits, according to documentation?In this episode discuss: Doing Your Research before Starting A Business Creating a Truly Unique Experience and Brand Following Your Heart in Business Taking Care of and Giving Back to the Environment  "We didn't want to be the generation that sits idly by and let things go by without positive change." Find Will and Ceremony Botanical at:Desert DoorWild Spirit Wild PlacesConnect with Steph Silver and the MVP podcast on: Website Instagram Linkedin Facebook

Will Rothell has called Wimberley his home for many years. He's watched it grow from a one stoplight town to what it is today and he's grown up with it. Now the owner of Ceremony Botanical, will shares his journey of becoming the owner of a thriving business by trusting his instincts and intuition.Ceremony is a botanical studio and boutique located in the Texas Hill Country, offering pretty plants and thoughtful goods for habitat and home.Listen to this episode of MVP Business and learn what's next for Will and what is next for Ceremony.Find Will and Ceremony Botanical at:WebsiteConnect with Steph Silver and the MVP podcast on: Website Instagram Linkedin Facebook

Jeff Munn helps frustrated leaders step into a more authentic version of themselves and their mission. In this episode he discusses his journey from being a corporate attorney to actually enjoying life and helping others discover and reach for their passions.Jeff came a point in his career where he sensed that he could help more people by being who he is than by doing what he knew. To step into that, he had to let go of the safety of the corporate identity he had always hidden behind, and step into a more authentic and powerful version of himself. While he knew he had to do it, he was also terrified to let go of the career that had treated him so well.Jeff has taken those key insights of his own transformation and created a proprietary process, “Creating Extraordinary Futures,” that helps frustrated executives take the leap into the bigger mission that’s calling them. Drawing from both ancient wisdom traditions and modern neuroscience, he points people toward that part of them that has no fears or limitations, and that is the source of all creativity and connection.In this episode Jeff and Steph discuss the common hamster wheels of fear and doubt that we get on and how to get off the wheel and enjoy life."We don't see that we've made up the rules for success in our own head and then judged ourselves for not meeting them."Connect with Jeff Munn and the MVP podcast on:YouTubeLinkedInWebsiteConnect with Steph Silver and the MVP podcast on: Website Instagram Linkedin Facebook

Heath Tolleson and Kristin McDermott share their story and passions to start their business together. Their passions  stem from the power of connections through timeless clothing, garments, and art. Named after Heath’s grandfather, Jack Felix Tolleson, the two have created an atmosphere where stories can be shared and experienced through friends, family, and community.  The goal at Felix T. Jack is to provide individual and effortless experiences with unique, small-batched, artisan-crafted clothing, accessories, and furnishings that are truly one of a kind. Both owners believe in supporting sustainable, long lasting, responsible garments and textiles. Heath and Kristin hand select the companies and items they want to work with and represent. Whether its hand stitched and sewn denim jeans from New York, cut and crafted duffels from Charleston, SC, each piece has its own story tell.  Felix T. Jack works with some of the most respected names in the independent fashion community. Brands that Felix T. Jack have partnered with such as Tellason, Slightly Alabama, Glenn’s Denim to name a few, all share the ethos of what is known as “Slow Fashion” which is defined as:  quality-based rather than time-based. Slow fashion pioneer brands and designers note that the movement encourages slower production, unifying sustainability with ethics, and ultimately invites consumers to invest in well-made and lasting clothes. Felix T. Jack wants to bring the concept of sustainable men’s fashion to the Texas Hill Country by introducing brands that are changing the industry everyday through positive and honest efforts. Felix T. Jack is located at 13210 RR12 in Wimberley, TX and store hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am-5pm and open by appointment Sunday and Monday. Please reach out through Facebook or Instagram and visit our website at www.felixtjack.com.In this episode you'll learn: Putting fear on the back burner starts with faith and excitement about what you're doing. What is slow fashion, and why it's important The process of opening a high-end clothing store in Wimberley, Texas The value of business partnership  "It all starts with taking an opportunity to invest in yourself."Felix T Jack WebsiteConnect with Steph Silver and the MVP podcast on: Website Instagram Linkedin Facebook