In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy Kerr sits down with Tanisha Butler, owner of Qwik Pack & Ship in Wake Forest, NC. Tanisha shares her journey from the corporate world into owning and operating a turnkey business alongside her family, and what that transition taught her about leadership, systems, and responsibility. A...
The CEO of the North Pole Santa Claus joins the Stay Broke Podcast! In this magical holiday episode, we explore how Santa leads the North Pole, manages the elves, innovates his Christmas systems, and spreads kindness around the world. Learn how he perfectly blends technology and magic to keep the whole operation going to make...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Jim Thompson, the new President of the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce. Jim shares his journey from growing up in North Carolina to navigating college, switching career paths, and ultimately stepping into the world of association leadership. His career took him through multiple...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy sits down with Lauren DiPasquale, the founder of RankRise Studio, a nationally recognized Google Business Profile management company helping businesses of every size increase visibility, ranking, and customer engagement. Lauren takes us through her entrepreneurial journey — starting with her childhood surrounded by entrepreneurship through her...
What happens when a former MLB pitching prospect and a published running biomechanics expert team up to build a performance ecosystem unlike anything in North Carolina? On this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Brandon Young and Dr. Lee Welch — the minds behind BYoung Physical Therapy, The Running PTs, 8ctane...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy sits down with Hannah Stutts, founder of JAKS Stables and The Samson Project, for a powerful and emotional conversation about resilience, purpose, and transformation. Hannah’s story begins long before her 10-year journey as a business owner — from being a junior at NC State at just...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Dan Wilson, Managing Partner of Viking Mergers & Acquisitions and a man who’s lived every side of entrepreneurship — from the grind of startup life to the strategy of multimillion-dollar exits. Dan’s story begins in the U.S. Air Force, where discipline, structure, and...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy Kerr sits down with Joe Kimray, co-owner of B&W Hardware — a 75-year-old Wake Forest landmark that’s now serving its fourth generation of customers. Joe shares what it’s like marrying into a multigenerational family business and learning how to “retrovate” — blending old-school service with new...
In this non-political episode, Mayor Vivian Jones shares how a shop owner’s perspective shaped her journey from running a downtown restaurant with her sister to serving Wake Forest as commissioner and then mayor. We cover the practical stuff founders need: navigating permits and renovations, activating underused spaces, façade and small-business grants, and the partnerships—Town, Chamber,...
When Ilia Kolosov first started selling ballroom dance shoes out of a duffel bag, he had no idea it would lead to an international brand. Today, as the founder of AIDA Dance USA and Ballroom Portal, Ilia has built a company grounded in discipline, integrity, and a deep passion for craftsmanship — but the path wasn’t easy. In...
