The Dispatch

When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together.

Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and find folks that had weathered and even grown during previous crises such as the Dot-Com ...

Wade Preston is the co-founder of Prevail Coffee Roasters based in Montgomery, Alabama. 

Of the many paths in the food and beverage industry, very few are as unique and, frankly, misunderstood as the world of specialty coffee. In today’s episode, we dive deep into the economics and strategies of working in the specialty coffee world, what makes this part of the industry so special, and why Montgomery, AL is kind of a badass pl...

When COVID-19 began to grind life and business as we know it to a halt, my friend Max Polec of Abstract Collective, a former guest on The Dispatch, and I wanted to do something that would provide some context and wisdom for people and their businesses as we navigated the crisis together.

Our idea was pretty simple; reach out to our networks and find folks that had weathered and even grown during previous crises such as the Dot-Com ...

Today’s guest is Carrie Rollwagen, former small business owner, author, and all around small business guru.

I’ve known Carrie for years through the coffee shop world and now as we’re both folks working in the technology industry.

Carrie is, as I describe it, a small business rockstar and I think her writing and podcasting are sources of great inspiration for small business owners. I hope you’ll check her content out and that you en...

Lloyd Cooper is the owner and principle at PUSH Product Design in Birmingham, Alabama. Lloyd joined me in the studio to talk about creative problem solving, specialists vs generalists, and, as his company's motto states, “bending constraints.”

Ever wonder how the most creative people generate their ideas? How they can possibly produce at such a high level? And have you ever suspected that there’s a better way to build your skills a...

Today we talk with Kim Lee, founder and CEO of Forge Coworking in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Kim's is has an incredibly humble and inspiring startup story that charts all of the ups and downs of life in a startup. Not only that, given the unique nature of coworking, Kim has been able to play a part in the birth and growth of many Birmingham startups herself. 

Kim's approach to business and her amazing perspective on all of the...

Welcome back to The Dispatch!

Today I’m talking with Max Polec. Max is the interim COO at Fledging, a Birmingham-based startup building really cool hardware that helps make life easier for creatives that rely on technology to get their jobs done. Max also runs Abstract Collective, a design, marketing, and strategy firm that helps your brand stand out.

Our conversation today centers around marketing, what it is, and how you can do i...

Welcome back to The Dispatch! 

Today's guest is Lydia Dick. Lydia is the Director of the Commercialization Accelerator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Lydia spends her days working with university students to help clarify, refine, and, ultimately, commercially their business ideas. 

Starting a business is hard and no one I know has had more experience with that process than Lydia. She's worked with and coached...

Welcome back to The Dispatch everyone! It’s been a long time and I want to personally apologize for the absence. I’m super fortunate that my business has been booming, but that means I’ve been a little too busy to create content lately.

Excuses, excuses.

Well, I’m back and I’m excited to bring you guys a series of interviews I’ve conducted and slowly, but surely, edited over the past few months. You’ll hear from directors of accele...

Today I'm talking with Austin Senseman and Nathan McMinn about their new company, MNMX. 

MNMX helps companies utilize the Internet of Things (aka IoT) to collect and interpret business data to make better business decisions and to understand their business processes better. 

I think this is a particularly fascinating subject and I hope you will, too! 

You can find Austin and Nathan at www.mnmx.io. Enjoy the show!&nbs...

Today I'm talking to Wesley and Emma Teague, a husband and wife super-duo that run their own photography business, Wesley & Emma Photography (www.wesleyandemma.com). 

They're all around super folks and have some great insights into running a small business, how authenticity and kindness help you differentiate your services, and even have some great blooper stories at the end. 

If you enjoy The Dispatch, consider hoppi...

Today on The Dispatch, I’m joined by my good friend Deon Gordon! As the former Business Development director for REV Birmingham and the current President and CEO of Tech Birmingham, Deon has been a huge part in helping shape the business landscape in Birmingham for a long time. Today we talk about how business in the Magic City is changing, what big issues are facing technology companies today, and what we can be doing to help f...

Hello! I'm so happy to be back with you guys! Today I'm sharing my interview with Amanda Storey, Executive Director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, Alabama. Jones Valley is an amazing organization that partners with schools and communities to incorporate farming and agriculture into curricula to teach everything from STEM, to commerce, cooking, and more! Jones Valley Teaching Farm is near and dear to my heart and...