Podcasts

What If? It’s the first question on every entrepreneur’s mind. What if I could change that? What if this existed? What if we did it differently? What if other people wanted what I was creating? What if I actually succeeded? Entrepreneurship drives our economy and impacts every area of our lives – from what we buy, to how we interact within our communities. That’s why at Belmont University, we love entrepreneurs – and we celebrate the impact of their work. Our alumni have started hundreds of businesses around the world. They are innovating, creating change, and driving the future. And we want to tell you those stories. So we thought, what if we start a podcast?

What If… We Could Keep Creators Creating?

Trevor Hinesley (Computer Science + Audio Engineering Technology ’12) is the founder and CTO of Soundstripe, a music tech company providing royalty-free music for videos. Launched in 2016 with the mission to keep creators creating, Soundstripe has been named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing companies. In today’s episode, we talk about bootstrapping your business, building a company based on your passions, and managing a growing team.

Soundstripe.com

This episode is sponsored by No Baked Cookie Dough, founded by Belmont alums Jimmy and Megan Feeman. Mention this podcast, or use code “WhatIf” to receive 50% off your order at NoBakedCookieDough.com

What If…We Could Make Dessert for a Living?

Megan and Jimmy Feeman (Music Business & Finance ’15) are the founders of No Baked Cookie Dough. NoBaked makes cookie dough that’s meant to be eaten raw, straight out of the jar. Now available online, in scoop shops, and select retailers throughout the Southeast, No Baked is revolutionizing the dessert industry! In today’s episode we talk about running a business with your spouse, scaling a small business, and maintaining motivation.

NoBakedCookieDough.com

This episode is sponsored by Studio Bank, founded by Belmont alum Harry Allen. Visit StudioBank.com to learn more.

What If…There Was a Community Center for Musicians?

Logan Crowell (Music Business ’16) is the founder of HOME: Helping Our Music Evolve, a Nashville-based home for artist development and music production. He’s created a supportive community that connects artists, producers, and business professionals to help creatives thrive in the music industry. In today’s episode we discuss the changes in the music industry, the power of bringing musicians together, and digging deep to find your focus.

HomeForMusic.Org

Belmont University President: Dr. L Gregory Jones

In today’s episode, we talk about Belmont’s new strategic vision, the entrepreneurial mindset, and how we can be a beacon of hope for our community.

Belmont University’s President, Dr. L Gregory Jones joins us today to discuss Belmont’s new strategic vision and focus on entrepreneurship across campus. He shares about our inaugural Hope Summit taking place on campus this week and how Belmont is bringing entrepreneurial leaders from across the world together to inspire innovation.

This episode is sponsored by Studio Bank, founded by Belmont alum Harry Allen. Visit StudioBank.com to learn more.

What If…Clean Water Could Change Lives?

Mark Hogg (Management ’85) is the founder of Waterstep, a social enterprise providing access to clean water to people around the world. Water is the first step to achieving health, getting an education, and learning work skills. Water can transform a community and Mark’s work over the last 30 years has helped countless people. In today’s episode we discuss pursuing your passions, the importance of training and education, and how one person’s vision can change the world.

Waterstep.org

This episode is sponsored by Where The Well Things Are. Visit WhereTheWellThingsAre.com to learn more about Belmont’s student-run boutique.

What If… I Could Open My Own Shop?

Meredith Mazie (Music ’10) is the founder of ABEDNEGO Boutique in the heart of Nashville, TN. Meredith used her passion and creativity to start her business, and shows us that with faith our dreams are possible! In today’s episode we talk about pursuing in career in something other than what you studied in college, believing in yourself, and the power of hard work.

ABEDNEGOBoutique.com

This episode is sponsored by House Of. Visit HouseOfNashville.com to learn more about Belmont’s student-run boutique.

What If…We Could Bring Creativity into Banking?

Harry Allen (Management ’04 + MBA ’10) is the co-founder of Studio Bank, a boutique bank in Nashville, TN. Studio Bank’s new banking model empowers creatives and provides sophisticating banking solutions to organizations, families, and individuals. In today’s episode, we talk about supporting your community, the role of creativity in entrepreneurship, and humble leadership.

StudioBank.com

This episode is sponsored by GearSeven.TV founded by Belmont alum, Kirk Slawek.

What If…We Could Offer a Lifeline to the Hopeless?

Evan and Jenny Owens (Musical Performance ’05 + Occupational Therapy ’05) are the founders of REBOOT Recovery, the nation’s largest faith-based response to trauma and suicide. Over the past 10 years, their work has helped thousands of people in 7 countries around the world. In today’s episode, we talk about hope and healing, running a venture as a married couple, and their new book “Healing What’s Hidden.”

RebootRecovery.com | “Healing What’s Hidden” book

This episode is sponsored by Where The Well Things Are. Visit WhereTheWellThingsAre.com to learn more about Belmont’s student-run boutique.

What If… Being an Entrepreneur Means I can Design My Life?

Kristin Sweeting (founder of Kristin Sweeting Photography and Danger School), studied Music Education at Belmont University before graduating in 2010. Kristin helps brands and businesses shine through intentional imagery and strategic coaching. With 10 years of experience photographing weddings and thoughtful brands worldwide, Kristin has also created scalable systems and supportive community for creative entrepreneurs wanting to make a big impact with her Danger School. In today’s episode, we talk about turning your passion into income, designing the life you want to live, and the power of entrepreneurial creativity.

KristinSweetingPhotography.com | DangerSchool.com

This episode is sponsored by House Of. Visit HouseOfNashville.com to learn more about Belmont’s student-run boutique.

What if… Pizza and Beer Can Change our Community?

EJ Reed (founder of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria) received his MBA at Belmont University in 2012. Since launching Slim & Husky’s in 2015, the business has grown to 11 restaurants with many more on the way. In today’s episode, we talk about entrepreneurial drive, rapid growth, and love for your community.

SlimAndHuskys.com

This episode is sponsored by GearSeven.TV founded by Belmont alum, Kirk Slawek.

What if… There are More People Like us?

Matt Fiedler founder of Vinyl Me, Please studied Entrepreneurship + Music Business before graduating from Belmont University in 2011. Since launching VMP in 2012, the business has grown to serve over 200k+ customers in 40+ countries. In today’s episode, we talk about growth challenges, keeping your sense of self, consumer behavior, and more!

SHOUTOUT of the week: Sam Walker (Music Business, 2014) is the co-founder of Walker Brothers Kombucha. Using a SCOBY inherited from their aunt, the brothers began to brew kombucha, eventually creating the light, refreshing, and probiotic-filled kombucha we enjoy today! DrinkWalkerBrothers.com

What if… We Pursued Something We Love Doing?

Sarah Worley, founder of Biscuit Love, received her Master of Accountancy at Belmont University in 2015. Biscuit Love family-owned restaurant with the mission of providing breakfast for good. What started as a food truck in 2012 has quickly grown into 3 restaurants in the Nashville area with 2 more coming soon. In today’s episode, we talk about creating community through entrepreneurship, caring for your employees, navigating covid, and having faith!

SHOUTOUT of the week: Savannah Taylor (Senior Entrepreneurship Major) started Clementine Floral Design to bring your event to life through her beautiful floral design.

What If… Food Could Transform Our Community’s Health?

Ryan Reisdorf (founder of Placemat) studied nursing at Belmont while launching his business with the mission of nourishing communities through feel-good food experiences. Placemat provides healthful, locally sourced food through 5 distribution channels. Over the past 5 years, Placemat has grown into a multi-million dollar business and has donated over 115k meals to people in need. In today’s episode, we talk about staying true to your “why”, how Ryan’s nursing education prepared him for life as an entrepreneur, and of course…food!

SHOUTOUT of the week: Ethan Akdamar and James Richard (Entrepreneurship ’20) started Bizi Vitamin Honey to create a cleaner way to get your vitamins. Infusing certified vitamins in raw USA honey, Vitamin Honey sticks make supporting your immune health convenient. www.GoBizi.co

What If… I Started a Business While in College?

Hannah Ashton, the founder of Dream Achieve, is a senior Entrepreneurship major at Belmont University. She’s created a goal-setting workbook and 6-month planner filled with pages to help you not only finish your to-do list, but create better habits, plan your routines, track your budget, and more! In today’s episode, we talk about starting a business while in college, developing time management skills, and just taking the leap to go for it!

SHOUTOUT of the week: Meredith Mazie (Music major, 2010) started ABEDNEGO Boutique in the heart of Nashville in 2015. ABEDNEGO specializes in women’s wear and home goods. It’s beautiful – go check it out! ABEDNEGOBoutique.com

What If… We Disrupt the World of Entertainment?

Jonathan Murrell (founder of The Escape Game) studied Entrepreneurship at Belmont before launching his business. In 8 years, the Escape Game has grown to 25 locations across the US with nearly 1,000 employees. And they aren’t stopping anytime soon! In today’s episode we talk about the entrepreneurial work ethic, valuing your people, and not being afraid to succeed.

SHOUTOUT of the week: Matt Horvath (Video Production ’12) is the founder of Pack Films. They partner with businesses, brands, and agencies to tell stories through video. They produce amazing videos to inspire and help you connect with your audience. Visit PackFilms.TV to check them out!

What If… We Created Virtual Banking Without Borders?

We have a special episode this week and instead of an interview, we’ll be sharing a talk given to our Belmont students earlier this semester as part of our Moench Entrepreneurship Lecture Series.

Our speaker is Tori Samples, founder, and CTO of Leaf Global FinTech.

Leaf helps people safely store and transports assets across borders. Currently working in several countries in Africa, Leaf has plans to expand and serve the 2 billion people around the world who do not have access to financial services.

Tori Samples is a young entrepreneur with an incredible story. In today’s episode, she will share her story as a self-proclaimed “unlikely entrepreneur”, present her formal pitch, and share how Belmont’s Cone Center for Entrepreneurship is sponsoring 10 refugee artists through her NFT initiative

What If… We Started a Feel-Good Family Business?

Sam Walker (founder of Walker Brothers) studied Music Business before graduating from Belmont University in 2014. Walker Brothers was founded by Sam and Luke Walker, two brothers that loved craft beer, but didn’t love the way it made them feel. So, like all good entrepreneurs, the two headed to their garage to create a solution – a beverage that would taste just as nuanced and flavorful as the best craft beer, but be easier on the digestive system and more conducive to a healthy lifestyle overall. Using a SCOBY inherited from their aunt, the brothers began to brew kombucha, eventually creating the light, refreshing, and probiotic-filled kombucha you enjoy today. Their motto, A Family Culture, reflects these origins, as well as our commitment to treating our customers, employees, business partners, and the planet with care and respect. Cheers!

SHOUTOUT of the week: Steve Soderholm (Music Business ’12) started Ranger Station in 2015. Ranger Station is a luxury fragrance company specializing in candles, body care, and personal fragrances. They create clean, sustainable, and handmade products that are good for you and the environment. RangerStation.Co

2022 Entrepreneur Village Highlight

At the end of each academic year, the Cone Center for Entrepreneurship hosts an annual Entrepreneurship Village. Our outdoor marketplace event allows Belmont entrepreneurs to sell products, practice their pitches, and show-off their business ideas.

For our 2022 village, 40 Belmont entrepreneurs, consisting of current students and alumni, set up tents and booths to promote their ventures to over 1,000 guests.

This week’s bonus episode highlights some of our Belmont entrepreneurs from this year’s village.

What If… Life Throws You Limes and You Make Frozen Limeade?

Keely Scott graduated from Belmont in 2004 with a Mass Communications degree. Her husband, Gabe Scott is a twenty-year veteran of the music industry. In 2020, they opened LadyBird Taco and have had an incredible journey of ups and downs ever since.

LadyBird Taco is a fast-casual restaurant in Nashville, TN specializing in breakfast and lunch tacos alongside a full barista service all day. With house-made tortillas, queso, and salsa, Ladybird has become an instant hit. But the past two years have brought a unique set of challenges and setbacks as Keely and Gabe navigated Covid and an unforeseen health scare.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the opening of the restaurant, what it’s like to be the spouse of an entrepreneur, and how their faith has given them the strength to persevere.

SHOUTOUT of the week: Will Hobbs (Psychology ’12) started Kolacho in 2020. Kolacho is a local, family-owned, and operated pop-up serving the Nashville community some good ol’ Texas breakfast kolaches. A kolache is a type of pastry with origins in Czechoslovakia and modern roots in Texas. To taste your own, find Will Hobbs at Kolacho.com

What If… Entrepreneurs Could Change the World?

Isaac Ezell (Associate Director of Development at HOPE International) received his BBA in Business from Belmont in 2007. Isaac has been serving entrepreneurs around the world with HOPE International for the last 11 years. HOPE invests in the dreams of families in the world’s underserved communities by providing biblically-based training, savings services, and loans that restore dignity and break the cycle of poverty.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the power of entrepreneurship in developing communities, what redemptive entrepreneurship looks like, and how his time at Belmont equipped him to take on his leadership role at Hope.

SHOUTOUT of the week: Nicole Brandt Minyard (Religion and the Arts ’14) started Daybreak Arts in Nashville, TN. Daybreak Arts is a social enterprise nonprofit that creates artistic and economic opportunities for people experiencing homelessness by providing access to creative resources needed to achieve personal fulfillment and success. Daybreak Arts provides space and materials for the artist to work as well as a platform to sell their artwork, leading to economic stability. To learn more about the incredible work Nicole is doing in Nashville, visit DaybreakArts.org

What If… With Dr. Cornwall

For our final episode of the season, we interviewed Dr. Jeff Cornwall, founder of Belmont University’s Entrepreneurship Program. Jeff came to Belmont in 2003 and developed the Entrepreneurship Major as well as our Center for Entrepreneurship. Over the past 20 years, Jeff has taught hundreds of students, mentored countless young entrepreneurs, and has changed the entrepreneurial landscape in Nashville and abroad. In today’s episode we discuss the start of Belmont’s program, his academic career, and his thoughts on everything he’s learned over the years.

SHOUTOUT of the Week: Matt (Business ’06) and Maggie Kuyper (Psychology ’07) are the founders of Harpeth Painting. Connecting character with craftsmanship, Harpeth Painting provides residential and commercial painting services with amazing quality. And a bonus, Maggie is Dr. Cornwall’s daughter! To learn more visit harpethpainting.com