In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth “Beth” Stevens, also known as Bennett Peach. Beth shares how she reinvented herself after her kids moved out, stepping into content creation, music, and stand-up comedy. We talk about her experience as the lead singer of Killing Fiction, building a brand on...
In this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, we sit down with Daniel Stevens, winner of Season 8, Episode 6 of Master Distiller. From running a commercial chicken farm to competing on national television, Daniel shares his journey, including his arrest related to moonshine production, how the charges were dropped, and why he chose to...
Matt Howard, owner of Scoma Construction Services, joins the Stay Broke Podcast to share how he built a successful remodeling business without relying on marketing. Starting in college while pursuing a business degree, Matt worked in construction on the side before fully committing to the trade. After navigating the ups and downs of the 2008...
On this episode of the Stay Broke Podcast, Randy sits down with Nicole Bazinet, founder of bwellbaby, an occupational therapist and board-certified lactation consultant who helps babies eat, move, and develop properly during the earliest stages of life. Nicole shares her journey from working in neonatal intensive care units to starting her own pediatric therapy...
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...
