The Unshakeables^℠ podcast

Season 2 Special Episode

Protecting Your Business from Fraud: Special Topic

 

In a previous episode of The Unshakeables, Ben spoke with Kilee Nickels of Nickel & Suede about a near $20,000 scam. In this bonus episode, Ben continues his conversation with Darius Kingsley, head of banking practices at JP Morgan Chase, to discuss the growing threats of fraud targeting businesses. Darius shares insights on evolving scam tactics and offers practical advice on how businesses can stay vigilant and protected.

 

Release date March 4, 2025

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Season 2 Episode 4

From Earrings to Entrepreneur: Nickel & Suede

 

Kilee Nickels never set out to be a CEO, but when her first pair of custom-made earrings became a huge hit, she knew she had to turn her passion into a business. From that moment, Nickel & Suede was born. But the journey hasn’t been without challenges — early on, Kilee faced everything from growing pains to a near $20K scam that could’ve ended everything.

 

On today’s episode, Ben is joined in the co-host seat by Eunique Jones Gibson, founder of Because Of Them We Can and Culture Brands. Together, they sit down with Kilee to dive into the realities of scaling Nickel and Suede, exploring the power of vision, authentic leadership and staying true to your brand’s core values while growing.

 

Release date March 4, 2025

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Season 2 Episode 3

Bootstrapping Clean Energy: Vessyll

 

A few years ago, Zahra Hargens-Illiff discovered batteries light her up. She built her own battery prototype in her garage and hit the VC circuit. But after a series of disappointing rejections, she took matters into her own hands and bootstrapped her first few products. A decision that took a lot of courage but one that is paying off.

 

Join Ben Walter and Kathleen Griffith as they chat with Zahra about a clean energy future. Discover what it takes to actually build a battery prototype, and hear about the grant that almost launched her company (but ended up costing her $17,000). Zahra also has one of the best entrepreneurial coping mechanisms Ben has ever heard. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date February 18, 2025

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Season 2 Episode 2

On the Right Foot: Esquivel Designs

 

George Esquivel started making shoes for himself and some friends, up-and-coming musicians in Southern California. Soon, Hollywood came calling. And it wasn't just celebrities who took notice. A film financier did, too. He said he wanted to invest in the company, but George soon realized his intentions weren't what they seemed.

 

Join Ben and special guest host Kathleen Griffith as they speak to George about the rise of Esquivel Designs. Hear what a meeting with Anna Wintour is really like, and what happens when you're betrayed by someone inside your company. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date February 4, 2025

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Season 2 Episode 1

Jamie Dimon: America’s Strength in Small Business

 

The Unshakeables is back for Season 2 — and it’s kicking off with an episode you absolutely won’t want to miss. Listen in as Ben Walter sits with a very special guest: chairman and CEO of JPMorganChase, Jamie Dimon. One of the world’s most respected financial thought leaders, Jamie will connect the dots between the current challenges facing small business owners and the broader financial landscape. And, of course, it wouldn’t be an episode of The Unshakeables if Jamie didn’t share some of the pivotal moments that he overcame to forge ahead in his own career.

 

This season Ben will also be joined by some new co-hosts, all of whom are making waves in business and culture in their own right. In this first episode, you'll hear from Kathleen Griffith, founder of Grayce & Co. and author of Build Like a Woman.

 

Release date January 21, 2025

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 13

A Fresh Perspective: Fresh Bloom Bins

 

The idea for Fresh Bloom Bins struck Tia Johnson like lightning on a hot summer day. After struggling with a dirty trash can and a teenager reluctant to clean it, Tia was inspired to start her own trash can cleaning business. She hit the ground running  quickly landing a government pilot program.

 

In this episode, as we continue to celebrate business across the country. Ben heads to Ohio to talk with Tia Johnson of Fresh Bloom Bins and Desmond Bryant from the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. They discuss how to navigate government contracts, clean up sticky situations and keep your business growing through it all.

 

Release date December 3, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 12

Delivering Success: Haus of Logistics

 

Quanetta "Q" McNeal loves two things: people and logistics. When she had the chance to combine these interests and launch her own company with her employer's support, she jumped in feet first. But starting her logistics business came with surprises no one could anticipate, like packages mysteriously disappearing, traffic jams stretching for miles and delivery trucks veering off course and crashing into trees.

 

Join Ben as he chats with Quanetta , founder of Haus of Logistics, about her journey from small business coach to entrepreneur. With 35 trucks on the road she knows firsthand that each vehicle presents a unique opportunity for things to go awry. Ben is also joined by Dr. Gia Wiggins, founder of Auditocity, to explore human resource issues that small business owners must face to ensure their success. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date November 19, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 11

Sowing Seeds for the Future: Sabanto

 

When Craig Rupp left Iowa in the 80s, he never wanted to step foot on a farm again. A whirlwind career as an engineer took him to some of the biggest companies - Motorola, Apple, Samsung - but he always felt a strong connection to his roots. He had an idea he couldn’t shake - an opportunity to change farming forever. Introducing Sabanto and its best-in-class Autonomous Operator, Steward. On the day of their first big test, the tractor froze, stuck in a field in a blizzard - no planting, no company, no future. If Craig wanted this to work, he had to find a solution - and fast.

 

Ben is back with a series of episodes celebrating businesses from across America, starting with the great state of Iowa and Sabanto Agriculture. Joining Ben is Sachin Seghal Founder of Elevate Digital Marketing in Des Moines and Brian Lamb, Northeast segment head for Middle Market at JPMorgan Chase. Together they discuss the developments in Artificial Intelligence and its importance for small businesses while sharing insights on how small businesses can effectively transition to mid-sized enterprises and beyond.

 

Release date November 5, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 10

Empowering Veterans for Success: Warrior-Scholar Project

 

Transitioning to civilian life after years of military service can be daunting. Some veterans pursue higher education, while others explore business and entrepreneurship, each journey is uniquely personal. What remains constant is the importance of ensuring service members are well-prepared for this transition. 

 

In this special episode of The Unshakeables, Ben sits down with Ryan Pavel, a veteran and CEO of the national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project, to discuss his transition from the military. Ryan shares how the discipline and determination he developed during his service helped him achieve his dream job: guiding and preparing other veterans for a fulfilling life after service. 

 

Additionally, Ben is joined by Mark Elliott, Managing Director and Global Head of Military and Veterans Affairs at JPMorgan Chase, who offers his insights on why veterans often become exceptional leaders and passionate entrepreneurs.

 

Release date June 25, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 9

An Unshakeable Mindset: Live from Atlanta

 

The Unshakeables returns with a special episode. Join Ben as he sits with Jay Bailey, CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, and Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, host of Therapy for Black Girls, live from The Experience: Atlanta, an event presented by Chase for Business. They discuss the mindset that makes small business owners truly unshakeable. Both small business owners, Jay and Dr. Joy witness the grit and resilience of Atlanta's business community. So listen in as they delve into what it means to become Unshakeable

 

Release date June 11, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 8

A Vision For the Future: DEZI Eyewear

 

Desi Perkins launched her YouTube and Instagram profiles to focus on makeup - and people loved it. And when she launched a line of sunglasses with a major sunglass brand, they ate that up, too. But when it came time to renegotiate the contract with that brand... that didn't go as planned. She and her husband Steven set out to do it on their own, knowing that failure of the brand meant this time the failure would be personal.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Desi and Steven about their daring real-life expansion of the online brand. Discover how they converted digital followers into real sales, demanding the best from their suppliers and refusing to settle for lackluster deal terms from a major company. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date April 30, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 7

Stretched To Their Limits: Rock 'Em Socks

 

Rob Starkman’s sophomore year was not a typical college experience. He spent most days chugging energy drinks and sweating over fabric dyes in his dorm room. It had all started a few months before, when Rob took on a new role as student manager of the men’s basketball team and it all almost ended when one of the largest companies in the world sent him a cease and desist letter.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Rob about the stroke of inspiration that started Rock 'Em Socks in a dorm room, and the large legal team that went after the business. Discover how he fought back, overcoming obstacles from outside and inside—his company, and the hard-won lessons that put Rock 'Em on the map.

 

Release date April 16, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 6

Building From the Ground Up: NNG Capital Fund

 

The 2008 Global Financial Crisis was hard for almost everyone. Fuquan Bilal remembers it like it was yesterday. A real estate investor, among other things, he came home to the news of the crash and the sharp realization that he lost $2 million overnight. That could have been the end advisors told him to file for bankruptcy.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Fuquan about how he fought to keep his companies afloat. Discover how he brought his business back from the dead, ignoring common sense, for his own gut instincts, his investments to diversify his income, and back into better communities for all. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date April 2, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 5

It Started With an Allergy: Partake Foods

 

When Denise Woodard found out her daughter Vivi had severe food allergies, she went into super mom mode. She looked for food that was nutritious and fun but what she found at the store was disappointing at best. So she took to the kitchen and started making her own snacks for Vivi, laying the foundation for Partake Foods, a Black-owned, female-led company offering allergy-friendly foods. As her snacks started to gain traction, Denise realized she needed more capital—and fast—if she wanted Partake to succeed.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Denise about Partake's humble beginnings and near failure to launch. Discover her commitment to funding Partake, pawning her engagement ring and emptying her savings in the process, and a chance meeting in a trade show bathroom that unlocked new doors for the company. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date March 19, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 4

Wired for Success: Doc Watts Electric

 

It can be tough to start a business. And if you’re a young family on the brink of the birth of your first child, it can be even tougher. Yet George and Margarita Rivera did it anyway. When George came home and told Margarita he quit his job to start his own electric company, she had apprehensions. Could they keep their family afloat while starting this new company?

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with the founders of Doc Watts Electric about those first rocky months. Discover how they built a company as they built their family, learned the tools of the trade while learning how to run a successful business—and avoided their competitor’s mistakes by looking to the future. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date March 5, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 3

Burning Both Ends of the Candle: Bonita Fierce Candles

 

Melissa Gallardo's childhood smelled like dark-roast coffee and lavender Fabulosa. As an adult, she found it difficult to find fragrances that made her feel like home, so she took it into her own hands and taught herself to make candles. It was a fun hobby side hustle until a 5,400 candle order almost sent her over the edge.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Melissa, founder of Bonita Fierce Candles, about taking her passion project from her side hustle to her full-time job. Discover how she started the company in her spare room, while working 9-5 and finishing a graduate degree, built a relatable brand by focusing on her personal experience and how she landed her first big order. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date February 20, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 2

Losing Everything... Twice: The Auto Firm

 

Alex Vega always loved cars. It started with a $500 car in high school and led to a custom detailing and modification business. Until one day, a business partner revealed his true colors and unceremoniously dumped Alex back to square one. But that wasn’t the first time that happened to Alex—and it wouldn’t be the last.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with Alex, owner of the Auto Firm about how even the biggest red lights in the world can't stop you when you know your brand, the importance of paperwork (especially when working with friends), and how finally finding a trusted advisor led to his greatest growth yet. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date February 6, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia

Episode 1

Rebuilding After a Blaze: Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea

 

In March 2020, while the entire world was shutting down, Doug and Jason Barrow, brothers and owners of Luna Gourmet Coffee & Tea, had other problems. One morning at the office, one of their employees said the building smelled like campfire. Now roasting coffee does get a little toasty—but never like this.

 

Join Ben and Tanya as they chat with the Barrow brothers about their business's phoenix-like comeback. Discover how they rebounded, securing fresh funding, finding unexpected allies and building a dedicated support team that propelled them to greater heights. These are The Unshakeables.

 

Release date January 23, 2024

 

The Unshakeables is brought to you by Chase for Business and Ruby Studio by iHeartMedia