This week the guys reflect on their first year and 50 episodes of the Sippi Podcast! Which is a little ironic, considering the rookie technical mistakes they made just trying to get this particular episode recorded.

In celebration of one year, the guys decide to relax and wonder off on numerous side topics, including a recount of the humorous origin story behind Caleb’s drink, the "Cafe Slider," which involved a run-in with Coca-Cola.

Looking ahead, they announce a six-week break to prepare for their next goal, Season Four of the Sippi Podcast, which intends to add an additional 50 published episodes to the catalog! The guys take a moment to earnestly solicit listener feedback on future topics and the show's general direction, including potentially incorporating more casual discussions alongside their entrepreneurial content. They also share anecdotes about listener engagement and their own evolving perspectives on the podcast's format and audience.

Catch out our last episode of the season on your platform of choice!

Sincere thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

This week the guys get a young politician’s fresh perspective – and when we say “young” we mean it! The guys sit down with 19-year-old entrepreneur and mayoral candidate, Caymen Watts!

Caymen discusses his candidacy for mayor of Columbia, Mississippi, and makes the argument that youth and lack of traditional political experience opens the door to new ideas and innovative problem solving. The discussion explores his background as a local athlete and businessman, his motivation to serve his community, and his plans for revitalizing the town, including addressing neglected properties and fostering new economic opportunities. Watts also shares his commonsense approach to politics and his thinking behind running as a Republican while emphasizing his desire to represent all people in his town, regardless of party affiliation.

If you need an encouraging reminder that there are still politicians out there who place pragmatism over party, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! Sincere thanks to Caymen Watts for getting behind the microphone and giving all of us an example of what we can look forward to with our newest generation of political leaders! You can check out this chat on your platform of choice by clicking the link here.

Also, sincere thanks to Indicium for editing this episode so quickly for the upcoming election!

This week the guys heard an incredible personal journey story from veteran and entrepreneur, Casey Patterson! Casey recounts his journey from a difficult upbringing and military service to his eventual founding of Alli CBD Marketplace, a company that aims to increase integrity and transparency in the American-grown hemp industry.

Consistent with his company’s mission, Casey is also extremely transparent on a personal level. He shares painful firsthand encounters with crime on his college campus, abject racism in the military, and how CBD helped him manage his own battles with physical pain and anxiety. The episode explores the complexities of the CBD industry, its regulations, and Alli's laser sharp focus to verify trustworthy, lab-tested, CBD products from family-owned farms.

Special thanks to Casey for traveling all the way from Atlanta to get behind the mic with us and share his amazing story!

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

This week the guys switch it up and discuss a topic from the perspective of a high school student, specifically Mr. Ashton Spence, who is currently a junior at the prestigious Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS).

Ashton is working on a project about “brain drain” in Mississippi, which required him to interview some local entrepreneurs. The guys thought it would be fun to turn his interview into an interview (meta, right?) and see how it would turn out.

Their discussion explores the reasons behind the state’s struggle to both recruit and retain STEM workers. Caleb and Chris also share some of their own entrepreneurial experiences in Mississippi, highlighting obstacles along with potential solutions to reverse the brain drain trend.

Wanna hear how their “interview of an interview” turned out? Check it out on the platform of your choice and let us know!

Sincere thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

This week’s guest is Jennifer Clark, owner of event planning company, Emerge Events. Jennifer shares her winding professional journey, from anthropology studies to disaster relief work, to owning a marathon training franchise and eventually founding her current event planning business. She discusses the challenges she has faced, especially balancing business with family life. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, building relationships, and creating a supportive network for women in entrepreneurship. The conversation explores her evolving understanding of sales and her passion for empowering other women in business. Ultimately, Jennifer highlights the significance of finding purpose in one's work and the ongoing journey of entrepreneurship, acknowledging both its loneliness and its potential for transformation!

If you are looking for an honest and transparent conversation about what small town entrepreneurship is really like, definitely check out this episode on the platform of your choice!

Special thanks to Jennifer for getting behind the microphone with us!

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

Picking up from Episode 0042, this week’s episode is Part Two on the topic of Direct Sales. The guys start off their discussion by recapping some of the highlights from Part One (they highly recommend listening to Part One first if you haven’t already).

They then explore new concepts such as “Customer Temperature” by differentiating between cold, warm, and hot leads, and advising caution with seemingly eager customers. They talk about the challenge of creating urgency without being unethical, and the need for entrepreneurs to gain personal experience in direct sales before hiring others to do the same thing. The guys also offer a little speculation about the future of direct sales in an increasingly automated world; and suggest opportunities for independent contractors/organizations that emphasize the enduring value of human interaction and empathy.

Interested in direct sales or want some ideas on how to get better at it? Then definitely continue this series here with Part Two on the platform of your choice!

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

This week features our special guest Morgan Spencer, pastor of “Hickory Grove was United Methodist Church, don’t know what they’re gonna be yet”. (It will make sense when you hear the episode!)

On the podcast, Morgan discusses his experiences in ministry, including the “business of church” where numerous entrepreneurship parallels can be found between the for-profit world and the not-for-profit world. Key themes in this episode include the entrepreneurial grind of pastoral work, navigating burnout in the non-profit world, building community, and the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance – even when your work is for a higher power. Morgan also shares about his own journey of becoming a pastor and the importance of faith in one’s personal and professional life.

Special thanks to Pastor Spencer for getting behind the microphone with us! Check out this chat on the platform of your choice.

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!

In this week’s episode the guys discuss the psychological factors of burnout with their special guest and Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Brittany Sapp.

Dr. Sapp and the guys talk about how burnout is formally defined, its prevalence among US workers, particularly entrepreneurs, and common misconceptions surrounding it. They discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating burnout, emphasizing the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and seeking support. Dr. Sapp offers some important advice for both individuals experiencing burnout and their spouses or business partners. Finally, they suggest strategies for addressing burnout, ranging from small, manageable steps to more significant life changes.

If you know someone struggling with burnout, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Special thanks to Dr. Sapp for getting behind the microphone and discussing this highly relevant and important topic! Check out this chat on the platform of your choice.

Special thanks to Indicium for editing this episode!