Maria Kordit’s life story is one of resilience, curiosity, and passion. After immigrating from the former USSR to the United States, Maria grew up in a family where hard work started early. She began working at a young age to help support her mother, learning responsibility and independence long before most kids her age. One...
Runbin Dong’s path to founding Scale Social AI is anything but typical. After moving to the United States, he began studying pre-med at UNC Chapel Hill with plans to become a doctor. During college, he adopted his two younger sisters and brought them to live with him — first in his dorm room, then in...
Some businesses are built to sell. Others are built to last. In this episode, Randy sits down with Chris Joyner, owner of Shorty’s Hot Dogs — the oldest continuously operating business in Wake Forest. Shorty’s has survived over a century of change, including World Wars, the Great Depression, suburban expansion, fast food chains, and COVID...
How do you start a distillery or whiskey business from scratch? In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy Kerr sits down with Brandon McCraney, founder of Olde Raleigh Distillery. Brandon shares how his four years as an Air Force officer shaped his leadership philosophy, what he learned from senior officers about discipline and...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Donahue, co-owner of Audrey’s Barkyard in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Joshua shares his story of growing up in a working-class household, moving multiple times as a kid, and learning work ethic early by watching his father build a career in landscaping. After...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Daniels Harrison, Mayor of Zebulon, North Carolina, for an honest, non-political conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, and growth. Jessica shares her real journey into business ownership — including starting a business before she was ready, becoming overwhelmed, and making the difficult decision to...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we’re joined by Graeson McGaha, a North Carolina comedian who’s built a loyal audience through viral generational humor, family-driven comedy, and authentic storytelling. This conversation goes beyond jokes. Graeson shares the behind-the-scenes reality of growing from content creator to touring comedian and business owner. We talk about...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Aaron Wright, a serial entrepreneur who built and sold multiple pharmaceutical-based businesses before opening iSmash Wake Forest. Aaron shares how he knew early in life that he wanted to be an entrepreneur, why experience often matters more than formal education, and what most...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy sits down with Ryan McEvoy, a former college hockey player turned multi-unit operator, franchise owner, and founder of a mission-driven nonprofit. Ryan’s journey started with discipline and sacrifice. When he opened his first uBreakiFix location, his business partner fronted the startup costs. Ryan moved into the...
Content Disclaimer: Some topics in this episode involve assault, grief, substance abuse, and personal loss. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Ron Shirley, founder of Lizard Lick Towing and one of the most recognizable faces in reality television. Ron shares his full story — from...
