What It Takes: Business Owners Tell All

In this episode, Levi King shares his entrepreneurial journey, the mindset shifts that helped him succeed, and the sacrifices he made along the way. From cold-calling businesses in his 20s to raising $200M in venture capital, Levi opens up about the grit, resilience, and personal growth required to build multiple successful businesses.

🔹 Key Themes & Takeaways:

1️⃣ The Mindset of an Entrepreneur

• Grew up in r...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Jeff Wenninger, a retired LAPD lieutenant with over 33 years of experience. Jeff shares his journey from overcoming dyslexia and a speech impediment to becoming a leader in one of the most demanding police forces in the country.

Jeff’s path to law enforcement was unexpected—after a negative encounter with police as a college student, he shifted his focus to criminal ...

In this episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Paul Ladensack, a seasoned architect with over 30 years of experience designing spaces that go beyond function—they tell stories, honor history, and serve communities. As a principal at CCBG Architects, Paul has led a variety of award-winning projects, including cultural, religious, commercial, and residential buildings.

Paul shares insights on balancing creativity with functionality, how...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker interviews award-winning architect Tessa Bradley about her journey in sustainable architecture, Passive House design, and the challenges of being a female business owner in the industry. Tessa shares her philosophy on solving complex problems with simple, efficient design, why Passive House is the future of sustainable living, and how she built her firm in a traditionally male-dom...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Kody Landals, a USMC veteran and founder of Reimagine Roofing, to discuss how he’s transforming the roofing and solar industry. Frustrated with unreliable roofing companies while working in solar sales, Kody decided to create a more transparent, efficient, and customer-focused roofing company. In just a few years, he’s scaled Reimagine Roofing to a multi-state opera...

In this episode of What It Takes, Jamie Seeker sits down with Lance Cayko, a multi-talented entrepreneur, architect, professor, podcast host, and co-founder of F9 Productions. Lance shares his journey from growing up on a North Dakota farm to becoming a leader in the architecture and design industry. He dives into how getting laid off pushed him to start his own firm, the importance of discipline and intentionality in business, and...

In this episode of What It Takes, Laura Wilson, founder of Natural Pilates, shares her incredible journey of immigrating to the U.S. with just $100 and turning her passion for movement into a thriving Pilates business.

From discovering Pilates while working in a physical therapy office to building multiple studio locations, launching an online fitness platform, and developing a teacher training program, Laura has navigated the chall...

Dave Benton, founder of Metajive, shares his journey from an accidental entrepreneur to leading a top-tier digital agency working with brands like Nike, Red Bull, and Google. He discusses the challenges of scaling a creative business, the importance of relationships in securing major clients, and the mindset shifts required to sustain long-term success. Through personal setbacks, industry changes, and pivotal moments of reinvention...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Brian Samson, founder and CEO of Plugg Technologies, to discuss how nearshore staffing is transforming the hiring landscape. Brian shares his journey from leading talent acquisition at top Silicon Valley startups to relocating to Argentina to build a nearshore team, and ultimately founding multiple companies specializing in Latin American talent.

They explore why mor...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with James Leinhardt, the CEO and Chief Sleep Posture Expert at Levitex. James has built a business around improving sleep posture, working with elite athletes, healthcare professionals, and everyday consumers to optimize their rest. He shares how he turned sleep science into a thriving company, the challenges he faced in educating the market, and why sleep posture is cr...

On this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Ive Haugeland, founder and principal of Shades of Green Landscape Architecture. Her journey is a powerful story of taking risks, following a passion, and staying true to her values while building a thriving business.

Originally from Norway, Ive started her career designing environmentally sensitive landscapes before making the leap to California in 2000. With no roadmap, she built S...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Robert Ancill, CEO of The Next Idea Group, to discuss his journey of reinvention from a culinary professional to a global business leader in hospitality and design.

Robert shares how he pivoted industries, scaled a business to 24 countries, and oversaw 89+ brand launches and 800+ restaurant openings worldwide. He dives into the challenges of growing a business intern...

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with James Bates, the Founder & CEO of AdviNow Medical, a company leveraging AI and augmented reality to transform healthcare. James shares his incredible journey—from leading billion-dollar tech businesses to raising $20 million to build his own game-changing startup.

We dive into the realities of scaling a business, the challenges of raising capital, and how James navigated industr...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker interviews Anne Shadle, co-owner of the award-winning Mayan Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky. Anne shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting with the launch of the Mayan Cafe in 2007 alongside her brother-in-law, Chef Bruce Ucán. Together, they’ve expanded the business into catering services and a food truck concept while staying true to their mission of sustainability and exce...

In this inspiring episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Puran Bair, an electrical engineer-turned-entrepreneur and meditation expert, to explore his incredible journey. Puran shares how he transitioned from corporate leadership roles to co-founding iamHeart, a business rooted in Heart Rhythm Meditation. We dive into the challenges of merging spirituality with entrepreneurship, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how le...

This episode of What It Takes features Dallin Huso, the owner and visionary behind Flamingo Pools, a premier pool maintenance company in Arizona. Dallin shares how he transformed his business into a trusted brand by focusing on customer-first principles, innovative services, and strong team leadership. From the challenges of scaling a service-based business to the importance of streamlining operations, Dallin provides actionabl...

In this episode of What It Takes, Jamie sits down with Nishchal Banskota, the founder of Nepal Tea Collective, a mission-driven company reshaping the global tea trade. Nishchal shares his journey as a second-generation tea producer, how his family's legacy inspired his mission, and his drive to connect Nepalese tea farmers directly with consumers. We explore the challenges of creating a transparent tea supply chain, the importa...

This episode of What It Takes features Natalie Griffin and Amy Philpott, co-founders of Gerry’s Cafe, a nonprofit cafe that provides employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Natalie, a former special education teacher, and Amy, a seasoned business professional, joined forces to address the high unemployment rate within this community. Opened in 2023, Gerry’s Cafe combines a mission-drive...

In this episode of What It Takes, we sit down with Adam Povlitz, CEO and President of Anago Cleaning Systems, a leading global commercial cleaning franchise. Adam shares his inspiring journey from the corporate world at IBM to stepping into his family’s business and leading it to international success.

We’ll explore what it takes to transition from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, the leadership lessons Adam has learned along...