Posted in Entrepreneurs Episodes Quarantine Con Carne

Stupid Rad entrepreneurship: The merch world of Simeon Meyer (Episode 542)

Bands need allies, and a trusted merch partner is everything. Over the past several years, Stupid Rad Merch has become a major go-to for local and touring musicians. But how did Stupid Rad find its footing and make its way…

Posted in Episodes crowdfunding Entrepreneurs Quarantine Con Carne

AWOLNATION/Distillers tour manager launches skateboard company (Episode 518)

Finless Skateboard Co. is in the home stretch of its Kickstarter campaign to produce eco-friendly decks with vintage feels and a modern twist. Dan McKay is a tour manager for bands like Cypress Hill and the Distillers. When the pandemic…

Posted in Entrepreneurs Episodes South side

The smells of Chicago come alive in candle form at Beverly Dry Goods (Episode 513)

I love candles. If you watch the FB Live broadcasts, 9 times out of 10 there’s a candle lit behind me. Imagine my excitement when I learned of Beverly Dry Goods on the South Side, selling candles with fragrances like…

Posted in Entrepreneurs Episodes Quarantine Con Carne

A successful pandemic-era food business created out of ‘spite’: Hardbittenn (Episode 512)

As the world constricted and the service industry was getting chokeslammed, an incalculable number of employees were cut loose or laid off. That’s Chef Halee Raff’s story. She got laid off and decided to go full-speed ahead with her own…

Posted in Entrepreneurs business Episodes Quarantine Con Carne

Innovation and entrepreneurship for Chicago’s creatives: 2112 (Episode 387)

Chicago’s creative community is lucky to have a resource like 2112 Chicago. I talked tonight with Scott Fetters (director), Rob Tovar (film/the Hangar) and Saudia Davis (Center for Creative Entrepreneurship) about innovating around (and through) this time of pandemic and…

Posted in Authors alcohol Entrepreneurs Episodes

Zero-proof whiskey and gin: ‘We literally cannot make this fast enough for demand’ (Marcus Sakey of Ritual Zero Proof) – Episode 304

I’m not drunk… YOU’RE DRUNK.

Posted in Episodes Entrepreneurs Small business

All aboard Transit Tees – Talking Chicago retail while eating food from the Delta (Episode 294)

Tim and Tom from Transit Tees (locations in Wicker Park and Andersonville) join me to talk about their successful, unique, and Chicago-centric retail operation. To help fuel the conversation, we’re eating food from The Delta in Wicker Park! Car Con…

Posted in Episodes Entrepreneurs Loop Polish food

‘You are destined to experience most things bewildered and alone’: ‘OddBox’ creator Steve Gadlin (Episode 288)

Entrepreneur Steve Gadlin (I Want to Draw a Cat for You, Raccoon Penis Bones, Two-Film t-shirt, OddBox) joins me this week for pierogi in Chicago’s Loop area. It’s been a bit… the last time Steve was on the show was…

Posted in Entrepreneurs Loop Videos

Video – Is he a modern-day P.T. Barnum? Genius? Something in between?

Meet Steve Gadlin, the “cat-drawing guy.” The “raccoon penis bones” guy. And now… the OddBox guy.

Posted in Entrepreneurs Episodes Mexican food North side tacos

Remembering when the Chairman of AIWA USA punched me in the face: Joe Born on Taco Tuesday (Episode 160)

PRESENTED BY BOOST MOBILE This week finds me interviewing AIWA USA Chairman Joe Born, a brilliant business leader, inventor and creative mind who I also happened to graduate high school with. http://traffic.libsyn.com/carconcarnepodcast/AIWA_-_Joe_Born.mp3 In this episode, sponsored by Boost Mobile, we…